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Agro Universities, India, People

This prestigious distinction recognises Prof. Pingali’s significant contributions to global agricultural science and policy.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is proud to announce that Prof. Prabhu Pingali, Chair of the ICRISAT Governing Board, has been elected as a Foreign Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA). This prestigious distinction recognises Prof. Pingali’s significant contributions to global agricultural science and policy.

Established in 1935, INSA is India’s premier scientific institution, dedicated to advancing scientific research and promoting knowledge across diverse disciplines.

Prof. Pingali, whose election to INSA places him among an elite group of 99 Foreign Fellows, is recognized for his influential contributions to agricultural development and food security.

Prof. Pingali’s comprehensive review of the Green Revolution (PNAS, 2012) is a cornerstone for scholars studying agricultural development.

His pioneering research on the harmful effects of pesticides has earned him multiple international accolades, shaping safer pesticide policies in the Philippines. In 1988, Prof. Pingali’s innovative work on agricultural mechanization and technology adoption in Africa earned him the prestigious Research Discovery Award from the American Association of Agricultural Economists.

ICRISAT extends its heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Pingali on this well-deserved recognition, honoring his exceptional contributions to science and global development.

This prestigious distinction recognises Prof. Pingali’s significant

Agrotech, Climate, Company News, Industry Reports / Analysis, Inputs, Sustainability, World

2024 Farmer Voice survey, a study among 2,000 farmers across Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Kenya, Ukraine, and the United States, conducted by global market research firm Kynetec on behalf of Bayer.

75 per cent of farmers are already impacted by climate change or worried about its impacts, and 71 percent of them report reduced yields as a major concern. 6 out of 10 have already experienced significant revenue loss due to weather events out of the norm recently. As part of the solution, farmers count on innovation: 75 percent are open to implementing new technologies to better cope with climate change. Desire for better yields, resilient farms, and protected livelihoods are driving interest and adoption of more regenerative and technological approaches to farming.

These are some of the key findings from the 2024 Farmer Voice survey, a study among 2,000 farmers across Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Kenya, Ukraine, and the United States, conducted by global market research firm Kynetec on behalf of Bayer. It reveals the challenges, aspirations, and needs of farmers in times of climate change, digitalization, and economic and political volatility.

Rodrigo Santos, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of the Crop Science Division, said: “The Farmer Voice study underlines that farmers continue to face accelerating economic and environmental challenges in their important work – providing food to the world. They want innovation to help them do their jobs better, and an environment in which they can increasingly turn towards regenerative practices making food systems more resilient – to the benefit of the planet, food security, and their livelihoods alike.”

In addition to the global Farmer Voice research, a separate survey was fielded with 1,450 smallholder farmers in India and Indonesia by Q&Q Research Insights, based on a similar questionnaire. The data from that study reveals that farmers in both countries are grappling with input costs, while also facing growing challenges posed by climate change. For Indian smallholders, an increased threat of crop damage from pests, diseases and weeds is their most cited near-term challenge (41 per cent). For Indonesian smallholders, fertilizer costs ranked as their top challenge (73 per cent).

Farmers in both countries are employing some regenerative agricultural practices so far, with about 80 percent of respondents indicating that they use at least one regenerative practice on their farms. Indian farmers use on average between 4 and 5 such practices, while Indonesian farmers are using between 2 and 3 on average. In both countries, a lack of knowledge as well as financial resources are cited among the main barriers to adopt more regenerative practices, although there is strong interest to do so.

Despite all challenges smallholder farmers in India and Indonesia maintain a positive mindset. 89 percent in India and 91 percent in Indonesia consider farming to be a valuable career, taking pride in their role in ensuring food security.

2024 Farmer Voice survey, a study among

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Oilseeds

The total Foodgrain production in the country during 2023-24 is estimated at record 3322.98 LMT which is higher by 26.11 LMT than the production of food grains of 3296.87 LMT achieved during 2022-23.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has released Final Estimates of production of Major Agricultural Crops for the year 2023-24. These estimates have been primarily prepared on the basis of information received from States/ UTs. The crop area has been validated and triangulated with information received from Remote Sensing, Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group and other agencies. Crop yields estimates are majorly based on Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) conducted nationwide. The process of recording CCEs has been re-engineered with the introduction of the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), which was rolled out in major States during the 2023-24 agricultural years. The new system has ensured the transparency and robustness of the yield estimates.

The total Foodgrain production in the country during 2023-24 is estimated at record 3322.98 LMT which is higher by 26.11 LMT than the production of food grains of 3296.87 LMT achieved during 2022-23. Food grain production witnessed record increase due to good production of Rice, Wheat and Shree Anna.

Total Rice production during 2023-24 is estimated at record 1378.25 LMT. It is higher by 20.70 LMT than previous year’s Rice production of 1357.55 LMT. The Wheat production during 2023-24 is estimated at record 1132.92 LMT. It is higher by 27.38 LMT than previous year’s wheat production of 1105.54 LMT and production of Shree Anna is estimated at 175.72 LMT as compared to 173.21 LMT during previous year.

During 2023-24, there were drought-like conditions in southern states, including Maharashtra & prolonged dry spell during August especially in Rajasthan. The moisture stress from the drought also affected the Rabi season. This mainly impacted production of pulses, coarse cereals, soybean & cotton.

The details of production of various crops are given as under:

Total Foodgrains– 3322.98 LMT (record)

Rice -1378.25 LMT (record)

Wheat – 1132.92 LMT (record)

Nutri / Coarse Cereals – 569.36 LMT

Maize – 376.65 LMT

Total Pulses – 242.46 LMT

Shree Anna– 175.72 LMT

Tur – 34.17 LMT

Gram – 110.39 LMT

Total Oilseeds– 396.69 LMT

Groundnut – 101.80 LMT

Soybean – 130.62 LMT

Rapeseed & Mustard – 132.59 LMT (record)

Sugarcane – 4531.58 LMT

Cotton – 325.22 Lakh Bales (170 Kgs. each)

Jute & Mesta – 96.92 Lakh Bales (180 Kgs. each)

The total Foodgrain production in the country

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Drones, India

 Under this collaboration, Drone Destination will provide drone spraying facilities to interested farmers, ensuring that DeHaat’s innovative products reach the country’s hinterlands.

Drone Destination, India’s foremost Drone-as-a-Service provider and the largest DGCA-certified Drone Pilot Training company in India, and DeHaat, an India’s largest full-stack Business to Farmer (B2F) platform, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in bringing cutting-edge drone technology to India’s farmlands. This partnership aims to enhance agricultural efficiency by offering drone spraying services while promoting DeHaat’s wide range of agricultural inputs, including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, to farmers across rural India.

Under this collaboration, Drone Destination will provide drone spraying facilities to interested farmers, ensuring that DeHaat’s innovative products reach the country’s hinterlands. Additionally, DeHaat, through its vast network of 14,000+ DeHaat Centers spread across 11 states and catering to 2.7Mn+ farmers, will generate leads for drone services and offer agricultural services directly to end-users. This agreement will streamline access to modern agricultural solutions, driving productivity and sustainability for Indian farmers.

According to Chirag Sharma, CEO, Drone Destination, “We are excited to join hands with DeHaat in revolutionising India’s agricultural sector. Drone technology has immense potential to enhance farm productivity, and with DeHaat’s strong market presence, we can reach more farmers and deliver innovative solutions to help them thrive in today’s competitive environment.”

Commenting on the partnership, Amrendra Singh, Co-founder & Director, DeHaat, said, “DeHaat, with its ‘Farmer’s First’ vision has always stood for empowering the Indian farming ecosystem through strong technological interventions. Our collaboration with Drone Destination represents another significant step forward in that direction. By integrating drone technology with our comprehensive agricultural services, we aim to provide farmers with cutting-edge tools that can increase crop yield and ensure sustainable farming practices.”

Drone Destination will be registered as a service provider on DeHaat’s platform, allowing farmers to access drone services directly and effortlessly. DeHaat will also list its agricultural products and services on Drone Destination’s platform, ensuring seamless integration and accessibility for rural farmers. In addition, both companies will work together to aggregate orders for drone spray services, ensuring an efficient and streamlined process for farmers.

The collaboration is expected to drive significant advancements in rural farming communities by facilitating the adoption of advanced technologies, ultimately helping to enhance productivity and improve overall agricultural outcomes.

 Under this collaboration, Drone Destination will provide

Company News, Digital Technologies, India, People

Prior to joining Digital Green Trust, Nidhi served as CEO of Nasscom Foundation.

Bringing over 25 years of transformational leadership experience in social development and technology for good, Nidhi Bhasin is now leading Digital Green Trust in its mission to empower millions of Indian farmers.

For 17 years, Digital Green Trust (DGT) has been dedicated to empowering small and marginal farmers in India, reaching over 4.7 million farmers. Leveraging digital technology to promote sustainable agriculture, DGT helps these farmers navigate significant transformations in the agriculture sector, increasing their resilience and adaptability in the face of global challenges. The organization is pleased to announce the appointment of Nidhi Bhasin as its new Chief Executive Officer for India, based in New Delhi.

With over 25 years of experience in social development, program management, and nonprofit leadership, Bhasin brings a wealth of expertise to Digital Green Trust. Prior to joining Digital Green Trust, she served as CEO of Nasscom Foundation, where she transformed the organization and took it to the next level by championing technology for social good and worked to bridge the digital divide in underserved communities across India. Before that, she spent two decades at Concern India Foundation, leading initiatives in education, health, and community development, particularly for women.

In her new role, Bhasin will lead a team of over 80 employees at Digital Green Trust, focused on training Indian farmers in sustainable agricultural practices through innovative tools like Farmer.Chat, an AI-powered assistant. She sees great potential in leveraging technology to improve the lives of tens of millions of farmers in the years to come.

“I am excited to continue building on the solid foundational work done by Digital Green Trust, as we work to scale our impact, in numbers and depth. Digital Green Trust is in a unique position to enable the agriculture ecosystem by bringing Government, philanthropies and corporates together at the intersection of technology, gender, climate and sustainability,” said Bhasin. “I look forward to driving thought leadership initiatives that can transform and create real impact on livelihoods in rural communities”, says Bhasin.

Tejesh Shah, Chairperson of the Digital Green Trust Board, notes “In Nidhi Bhasin, we see a leader whose dedication to social good, paired with her deep expertise in technology, perfectly aligns with our mission. Her insights and energy will be instrumental in advancing Digital Green Trust’s efforts to revolutionize agricultural practices for the betterment of farmers and their communities. I look forward to seeing her vision unfold.”

Bhasin’s arrival marks a new chapter in Digital Green Trust’s journey, as the organization continues to build on its successful track record of empowering farmers with knowledge and tools to thrive. The team looks forward to her leadership in bringing fresh energy and growth to its mission.

Digital Green Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting Indian farmers in adopting sustainable agricultural practices through innovative tools like Farmer.Chat, an AI assistant. The organization’s mission is to improve the lives of millions of smallholder farmers by leveraging technology to deliver personalized and scalable solutions.

Prior to joining Digital Green Trust, Nidhi

Agribusiness, Collaborations, Company News, Europe, Finance, Schemes - Banks

The collaboration aims to expand the regenerative agriculture transition through improved access to finance for farmers, while supporting banks to achieve their green finance goals.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and Danish climate fintech, Agreena, have announced a groundbreaking financial services partnership to advance sustainable farming across Eastern Europe. This first-of-its-kind collaboration aims to expand the regenerative agriculture transition through improved access to finance for farmers, while supporting banks to achieve their green finance goals.

IFC is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Agreena will be working with the institution’s Europe Sustainable Finance Project, which provides advisory services to increase the flow of climate finance towards initiatives and projects across a range of sectors, including agriculture.

The partnership aims to help banks support their agricultural customer portfolio in switching to more sustainable farm operations and unlock bank lending to farmers who can face a ‘finance gap’ in the early years of transitioning to regenerative farming. With many farm businesses operating on thin margins, the demand for new equipment and the risk of short-term production losses can make the move to regenerative agriculture challenging, despite its ability to deliver long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits.

“By partnering with Agreena, IFC is committed to accelerating the transition to regenerative agriculture in Eastern Europe,” said Liliana Pozzo, IFC Sustainable Finance Advisory Services Manager Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe. “This collaboration not only helps farmers reduce their carbon footprint and enhance biodiversity but also equips financial institutions with the tools needed to support farmers during this critical transition period.”

Financial institutions have a unique position to promote and help drive the adoption of regenerative agriculture due to the scale of their lending to farmers across Europe. In parallel, pressure is mounting to reduce so-called ‘paper decarbonisation’, the act of reducing emissions by reshuffling portfolios. Instead, banks are being asked to provide more evidence of the impact of their green lending, while also doing more to help their clients become more sustainable.

Agreena is already developing solutions for banks who are seeking to build strong sustainable finance offers in the agriculture sector. Drawing on its expertise as the developer of Europe’s largest soil carbon programme, Agreena leverages its farmer interface and advanced Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) capabilities to assist banks with granular, verified farm-level data, to support eligibility documentation for green finance offers.

“Agreena is extremely excited to embark upon this new strategic alliance with the World Bank’s IFC – it is a bold step towards a new era of regenerative agriculture finance,” said Frederik Aagaard, Chief Commercial Officer at Agreena. “The agricultural sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse emissions, but it can also be a leader in the fight against climate change, and banks have a key role to play in unlocking this potential. Our collaboration with IFC will enhance banks’ awareness of regenerative agriculture and soil carbon removals and support them with documentation. We also plan to explore new solutions for the market, such as carbon credits for loan repayment and green bonds,” added Aagaard.

The collaboration aims to expand the regenerative

Agribusiness, Company News, India, Oilseeds

Adhering to rigorous FSSAI standards, each batch of spices is tested for high-risk pesticide residues and undergoes 20 quality checks from farm to final product.

Bengaluru based iD Fresh Food, India’s largest and most loved fresh food brand, announced its foray into the Rs 25,000-crore branded spices market with the launch of three distinctive spice variants – Pure Spice – Red Chilli Powder, Blended Spice – Garam Masala, and Sambar Powder. With the new venture, iD Fresh aims to achieve a significant share of the market.

With a commitment to delivering clean and preservative-free food, iD Fresh Food new spices are crafted without synthetic additives or chemicals. Adhering to rigorous FSSAI standards, each batch is tested for high-risk pesticide residues and undergoes 20 quality checks from farm to final product. iD Fresh Food guarantees that its spices are free from chemical treatments and adulterants, thus ensuring exceptional quality.

The new iD Fresh Food spices will initially be available in Bangalore retail stores starting this month, with plans for a gradual rollout to other major markets.

Rajat Diwaker – CEO (India) of iD Fresh Food, shared, “Innovation has always been at the core of iD Fresh Food’s products. Our packaging for these spices preserves their freshness, flavour, and aroma for up to 12 months without the need for chemical treatment. To maintain our commitment to transparency and clean labelling, each spice packet includes a QR code that provides access to pesticide test and quality check reports, giving consumers easy access to detailed information about the product’s quality. After dedicating many months to the development of these spices, we are thrilled to enter this new category. Our goal is to capture a significant market share and set a new standard with our clean and natural ingredients.”

Enakshi, Head of New Product Development of iD Fresh Food, emphasized the company’s values, stating, “Our new range of clean label spices embodies the same principles that our customers trust us for—no preservatives, no chemicals, and only natural ingredients. To ensure top quality and taste, we spent months crafting these spices, collaborating with experts and consumers. We maintain purity through strict control over sourcing, processing, quality checks, and packaging. We are confident that by upholding these standards, we will make a notable impact in the spices market and meet the needs of every Indian kitchen sustainably”.

Adhering to rigorous FSSAI standards, each batch

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

Novonesis will support KRIBHCO in strengthening its existing fertiliser production facility in Gujarat.

India’s second-biggest fertiliser cooperative, KRIBHCO, announced its partnership with Novonesis, a leading company in biological solutions. Under this agreement, KRIBHCO will market the Denmark-based company’s Rhizosuper.

Company will make a long-term commitment to exploring collaboration opportunities within agribio solutions that will improve crop yield and soil quality, said KRIBHCO in a statement. Further, Novonesis will also support KRIBHCO in strengthening its existing fertiliser production facility in Gujarat.

In the first phase, farmers will get access to the advanced Mycorrhizal Biofertilizer product ‘KRIBHCO Rhizosuper’, powered with Novonesis’ proprietary LCO (Lipo-chitooligosaccharides) Promoter Technology®, suitable for all crops. Subsequently, the companies will introduce more of Novonesis’ biosolutions in the plant health space. LCO is a signalling molecule, emerging as a significant innovation in the agricultural sector, particularly in India, where farmers face numerous challenges such as reduced soil carbon, improper fertiliser use, and erratic weather patterns.

The Rhizosuper will cost farmers about Rs 500-600 per acre. Farmers can use it in paddy, wheat, and pulses during the early growth stages of plants when roots are developing. KRIBHCO plans to sell the product in the upcoming Rabi sowing season, which starts in October.

Elaborating on the partnership, M.R. Sharma, Managing Director, KRIBHCO said, ″This partnership will usher in a new era where Indian farmers will get access to cutting-edge agri biosolutions. KRIBHCO is committed to empowering our farmers with innovative agri biosolutions that not only enhance yield and soil quality, but also champion the cause of sustainable agriculture. By adopting KRIBHCO Rhizosuper, Indian farmers are not just improving their crop yields, but are also becoming the stewards of our land securing a prosperous future for the coming generations.

Krishna Mohan Puvvada, Novonesis Senior Vice President for the India, Middle East, and Africa region, said that for the first time, an innovative Mycorrhizal bio fertiliser with proprietary LCO promoter technology is being introduced in India after being tested on wheat, tomatoes, and chillies across the country.

Novonesis was formed this January with the merger of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen, both from Denmark. However, Novozymes has been in India for quite some time, and many in the food processing sector use its products.

Novonesis will support KRIBHCO in strengthening its

Acquaculture, Agri Genomics, AgroPolicy, India

Field trials conducted in Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Maharashtra demonstrated the improved Catla’s ability to reach an average weight of 1.8 kg in polyculture systems.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh  launched “Amrit Catla,” a genetically improved variety of Catla (Labeo catla), at the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar. The National Freshwater Fish Brood Bank (NFFBB) of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) received the Amrit Catla, ensuring its wider distribution and availability for farmers across the country. This development represents a significant milestone in freshwater aquaculture and aligns with the institute’s efforts to enhance fish seed quality for India’s growing fish farming community.

ICAR-CIFA began a selective breeding program in 2010 to improve the body weight of Catla at harvest, addressing the need for high-quality fish seed. The program collected nine strains of Catla, sourced from West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. These strains were utilised as the base population for the selective breeding program. Through the Combined Family Selection method, the breeding process was guided by phenotypic information and microsatellite markers. Superior animals were selected based on breeding value, and after four generations of breeding, a 15 per cent genetic gain per generation was achieved, leading to a cumulative gain of 35 per cent by the third generation. Field trials conducted in Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Maharashtra demonstrated the improved Catla’s ability to reach an average weight of 1.8 kg in polyculture systems, compared to 1.2 kg for local strains in one year. Recently, the “Amrit Catla” project received national recognition with the Best Technology Award at the 96th ICAR Foundation and Technology Day on July 16, 2024, and was officially trademarked as “CIFA-Amrit Catla” on August 1, 2024.

In his address, Rajiv Ranjan Singh emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to scaling up research initiatives. He assured that the Ministry would provide substantial support for research endeavours in the fisheries sector to ensure sustainable growth and enhanced productivity. He also highlighted that the Ministry has recently declared ICAR-CIFA as the Nucleus Breeding Center for freshwater fishes, further solidifying its role in the development of high-quality fish seed in India.

The event was attended by George Kurian, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs, along with senior officials and stakeholders from the fisheries sector. The release of “Amrit Catla” underscores the government’s dedication to advancing aquaculture practices, ensuring quality fish seed supply, and boosting the nation’s fish farming industry.

Field trials conducted in Odisha, West Bengal,

Agro Universities, India, Soil Health, Sustainability, Textile industry

This partnership is set to empower smallholder farmers with cutting-edge agronomic practices designed to regenerate soil and boost cotton yields.

In a groundbreaking stride toward reshaping Indian cotton farming, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry’s (CITI) Cotton Development and Research Association (CDRA) has teamed up with Beetle Regen Solutions to champion regenerative agriculture in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh. This visionary partnership is set to empower smallholder farmers with cutting-edge agronomic practices designed to regenerate soil, boost cotton yields, and create a sustainable future for agriculture.

A Game-Changing Approach to Farming

At the core of this initiative is the introduction of advanced techniques like high-density planting systems (HDPS), regenerative agriculture, and biochar applications. These pioneering methods not only promise to enhance cotton productivity but also rejuvenate soil health, capture carbon, and align Indian cotton farming with global climate action.

Key Highlights of the Partnership:

Empowering Farmers with Next-Gen Tools: Farmers are equipped with innovative practices such as HDPS and regenerative agriculture, enabling them to meet the rising global demand for eco-friendly, regenerative cotton that aligns with sustainable fashion goals.

Restoring Soil Vitality & Combatting Climate Change: By incorporating Biochar into the farming process, this partnership aims to transform agricultural land into powerful carbon sinks, significantly boosting the soil’s capacity to capture carbon and contribute to worldwide climate solutions.

Economic and Social Impact: The initiative is not only a leap for the environment but also a step toward economic empowerment. By improving cotton quality and yields, it helps secure higher incomes for farmers, enhancing their livelihoods and promoting social prosperity in cotton-growing regions.

This collaboration between CITI-CDRA and Beetle Regen Solutions marks a new chapter for Indian cotton farming, where environmental sustainability meets economic resilience. Together, they are charting a bold course that positions Indian cotton as a leader in regenerative agriculture, setting an example for the global agricultural community.

“With this partnership, we are laying the foundation for a future where cotton farming is not only sustainable but transformative—delivering better incomes for farmers while driving environmental regeneration,” said Rakesh Mehra, Chairman, CITI. “This is a game-changer for Indian agriculture and a crucial step toward achieving climate goals.”

This initiative reflects a shared commitment to making cotton farming a force for good—economically, socially, and environmentally. CITI-CDRA and Beetle Regen Solutions are setting the stage for a future where Indian cotton farming thrives in harmony with nature, creating lasting benefits for both people and the planet.

This partnership is set to empower smallholder

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Biofuel industry, Company News, Environment, India, Start ups, Sustainability

Over 40+ units of balers, rakers, slashers and tractor trollies are deployed at BiofuelCircle’s Ramnagar Biomass Bank in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh.

 BiofuelCircle, strengthened its commitment to empower rural India for generating wealth from agri-waste at an event ‘Parali Se Ujjawal Bhavishya’, held at the Ramnagar Biomass BankTM in  Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. BiofuelCircle enables a participative ecosystem at rural level. It deployed a fleet of 40+ digitally networked machines, including balers, rakers, and slashers procured from Maschio Gaspardo, a global agricultural equipment provider, to drive streamline field clearing for farmers and by farmers while mitigating the environmental hazards of traditional farming methods and creating biomass entrepreneurship at the same time.

The event saw participation from over 100 farmers and industry partners. This initiative forms part of BiofuelCircle’s mission to establish Biomass Banks locally which are rural enterprises that aggregate stubble (Parali) in the region, where an estimated 30,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of stubble will be collected from 25,000 acres of farmland, involving 5,000 farmers across 30+ villages in Uttar Pradesh.  The machine fleet on the ground is an enabler for locals to create enterprises around parali collection, transport and storage. The farmers can rent their tractors on BiofuelCircle platform, become equipment operators and generate additional earning opportunities through the parali season. The locally setup warehouses offer year-round employment opportunities. This is only start of the season and more locations across India will follow suit.

While presiding over the event, Manish Kapoor, Vice President, BiofuelCircle said, “We are excited to introduce the first large-scale deployment of modern farm-clearing equipment in Barabanki. This is a first of its kind’s initiative in India. This will ensure efficient and timely clearing of farmlands. By deploying fleet, state-of-the-art farm clearing machines, we will save 30,000 MT of stubble from being burned, while also creating new economic opportunities for local farmers for better livelihood. We have also set up three Biomass Banks with three warehouses in Barabanki alone, creating dedicated biomass supply chains for Compressed BioGas (CBG) plants, powered by BioFuelCircle’s digital platform and its Biomass Bank model.”

Suhas Baxi, Co-Founder and CEO, BiofuelCircle shares, “The greatest challenge has been the efficient collection and timely clearing of stubble from farms which leads farmers to try alternate methods which are not environment friendly. With the use of telematics, GPS, and state-of-the art cloud-based platform, we are creating an organized framework for collection, logistics and storage management at scale. With these technology enablers, we are engaging with 150 locals as tractor drivers, fleet operators, supervisors with assured business activities and over 200 laborers. We are ensuring rural participation and driving local entrepreneurship around biomass activities.”

BiofuelCircle is pioneering the establishment of dedicated biomass supply chains for Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants through its innovative digital platform-enabled Biomass Bank model. BiofuelCircle’s initiative not only mitigates the environmental impact of stubble burning but also contributes to rural economic activity by creating a more structured and sustainable biomass supply chain that is also participative and inclusive. The company’s efforts are a testament to its commitment to fostering sustainable agricultural practices while ensuring the economic empowerment of farmers.

Over 40+ units of balers, rakers, slashers

Agro Universities, Digital Technologies, India, R&D

The study emphasises that SMTs outperformed Machine Learning methods in crop type mapping, particularly where ground data is limited.

In a recent effort to harness satellite data for countries with limited ground reference information, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) conducted a study using Senegal as a model to test various algorithms. While numerous remote sensing products exist for land cover mapping, accurately identifying crop types requires machine learning algorithms to process satellite data.

This study compares Machine Learning methods with Spectral Matching Techniques (SMTs) and demonstrates that SMTs are more effective than Machine Learning methods in scenarios where ground data are scarce. Although Machine Learning algorithms are valuable for processing satellite images to identify crop types, they require large volumes of high-quality training data. The study emphasizes that SMTs outperformed Machine Learning methods in crop type mapping, particularly where ground data is limited.

Dr Murali Gumma, the study’s lead author, stated, “Among the four approaches tested, Spectral Matching Techniques achieved the highest accuracy, exceeding 76 per cent. In contrast, machine learning methods—such as CART (Classification and Regression Tree), SVM (Support Vector Machines), and RF (Random Forest)—which are used for molecular machine learning and predicting compound properties, only reached accuracies between 40 per cent and 55 per cent.”

Traditional methods have faced challenges in mapping crop types in small, irregularly shaped fields and regions with inter-cropping practices. This paper highlights that high-resolution satellite imagery when combined with semi-automated algorithms like SMTs is ideally suited for dryland regions in Africa, making it a valuable tool for enhancing agricultural mapping in these challenging environments.

“In terms of the study’s applicability, there is significant potential in West African countries such as Mali and Niger. Improved insights into crop type mapping can be instrumental in calculating agricultural yield and, when combined with weather, climate, and socioeconomic data, can help pinpoint regions where productivity is impacted,” highlighted Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General – Research, ICRISAT.

The study emphasises that SMTs outperformed Machine

AgroPolicy, India

The MoU starts a new phase of cooperation aimed at improving food safety through joint projects and technical collaboration.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) signed an MoU with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) of Brazil on the sidelines of Global Food Regulators Summit, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The MoU starts a new phase of cooperation aimed at improving food safety through joint projects and technical collaboration. It was signed by Carlos Henrique Baqueta Fávaro, Agriculture and Livestock Minister, Brazil and counter signed by G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO of FSSAI.

G. Kamala Vardhana Rao said, “Signing this MoU demonstrates our dedication to food safety and signifies a major advancement in our ongoing efforts to enhance international collaboration in food safety.  We are eager to work with MAPA to achieve our common goals and enhance food safety in both countries.”

The representative from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil added “The signing of the MoU marks a milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries in the field of food safety, allowing for technical cooperation and exchange of experience and knowledge with the aim of strengthening the institutional collaboration and pursuing joint initiatives.”

Both FSSAI and MAPA are committed to fostering a mutually beneficial and productive partnership.

The MoU starts a new phase of

Agro Universities, India, People, R&D

With over two decades of experience in breeding programs, Dr Gupta is involved in the development and release of several cultivars of pearl millet and pulse crops.

The Executive Council of the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding (ISGPB) has conferred the prestigious title of “Fellow of the ISGPB” upon ICRISAT scientist ​ Dr S.K. Gupta in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of genetics and plant breeding. The award ceremony took place at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.

With over two decades of experience in breeding programs, Dr Gupta is involved in the development and release of several cultivars of pearl millet and pulse crops. He has managed seed and restorer parental line development programs for pearl millet breeding at ICRISAT, where he developed a series of seed and restorer parental lines.

Dr Gupta is actively engaged in the genetic and cytoplasmic diversification of pearl millet hybrids. He has uncovered the genetics of several important traits in pearl millet and various pulse crops and has identified donors for critical traits.

Globally, while working with many Agricultural Research Institutes, Dr Gupta has been instrumental in standardizing the genomic selection model, enhancing the understanding of heterotic pools, and identifying key mechanisms for flowering period heat tolerance in pearl millet.

Director General of ICRISAT, Dr. Jacqueline Hughes, applauded Dr. Gupta for the well-deserved recognition, stating that this fellowship stands as a powerful testament to his unwavering dedication and significant contributions to plant breeding, particularly in enhancing the productivity and resilience of marginal farms in arid and semi-arid regions.

Dr. Surinder Kumar Vasal, World Food Prize Laureate, presented the fellowship to Dr. Gupta during a ceremony attended by esteemed members of the ISGPB.

The event also featured Dr Vasal’s delivery of the inaugural Bharat Ratna Prof. M. S. Swaminathan Memorial Lecture, before the awards presentation.

With over two decades of experience in