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Acts & Schemes – Centre, AgroPolicy, Interaction, Investments, Schemes - Govt, Schemes - NABARD

The regional conference held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, highlighted the importance of operationalizing SNA-SPARSH, for fostering growth, and supporting farmers across all regions of Northern States

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare held a regional conference at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, to conduct a midterm review of agricultural schemes implemented by Northern States. Key officials from Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Delhi gathered to evaluate progress and address challenges in the effective implementation of these schemes. During the meeting, Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi urged states to expedite the execution of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) by ensuring timely fund allocation and addressing issues related to state contributions and Single Nodal Account (SNA) balances.

The initiative focused on improving implementation of major schemes, including Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana, where non-performing states were encouraged to enhance their efforts in the remaining months of the fiscal year. Dr. Chaturvedi also advised states to finalize the RKVY annual action plan for FY 2025-26 by December to enable timely release of the first installment by April, aiming to reduce previous delays in fund utilization. A comprehensive review of key initiatives took place, covering the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Mission for enhancing credit access, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for risk mitigation and expanded crop insurance, and the Digital Agriculture Mission for advancing data-driven agriculture. The conference highlighted the need for digital integration in crop surveys and the alignment of state land records with the Agristack to streamline operations under PM KISAN.

The meeting also discussed high-priority topics, including the National Edible Oils Mission, NABL accreditation for laboratories under the Insecticides Act, and the efficient use of the Krishi Nivesh Portal and Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) to foster sector growth.

Shri Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (IC, Oilseeds & Credit), set the agenda for the review and welcomed delegates from the agriculture departments of Northern States, as well as representatives from allied departments including Tribal Affairs, NABARD, and Cooperation.

Senior officials from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, including Additional Secretaries Ms. Manindar Kaur, Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda, Mr. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Ms. Shubha Thakur, and Joint Secretaries Mr. Praveen Kumar Singh, Mr. Samuel Praveen Kumar, Ms. Perin Devi, Mr. Muktanand Agrawal, Mr. Prabhat Kumar, Mr. Binod Kumar, Mr. Priya Ranjan, and Mr. Purna Chandra Kishan, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Cooperation, NABARD, and the Department of Financial Services.were the other key attendees of the conference.

The regional conference held at Krishi Bhawan,

Agro Universities, India, People

Dr Blade currently serves as Deputy Director General – Research until the new Director General, Dr Himanshu Pathak, takes up the position next year.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) announces a transition of leadership as Dr Jacqueline Hughes, the outgoing Director General, hands over official duties to Dr Stanford Blade, who will serve as Director General – Interim.

Dr Blade currently serves as Deputy Director General – Research and will guide the institute during this period of transition until the new Director General, Dr Himanshu Pathak, takes up the position next year. Dr Hughes expressed confidence in Dr Blade’s leadership as he assumes the role of Director General – Interim. “I leave ICRISAT in capable hands, knowing that Dr Blade’s deep commitment to our mission and his strategic expertise will ensure continuity as we advance our work in resilient agriculture,” stated Dr Hughes.

As Director General – Interim, Dr Blade is committed to reinforcing ICRISAT’s position as a leader in dryland agricultural research, championing scientific innovation, resilience-building, and partnerships.

“I am honoured to serve as a bridge for ICRISAT during this pivotal time, ensuring we maintain momentum until Dr Pathak joins us next year. Together, we remain dedicated to supporting smallholder farmers and delivering on our promise of a more food-secure and climate-resilient future,” said Dr Blade.

ICRISAT thanks Dr Hughes for her exceptional leadership and welcomes Dr Blade to this vital interim role. The institute looks forward to continuing its mission with renewed commitment and advancing agricultural innovations that benefit dryland communities worldwide.

Dr Blade currently serves as Deputy Director

Agribusiness, Biofuel industry, Company News, Finance, India

Company’s Profit After Tax stood at Rs. 538.310 million in Q2FY25.

Praj Industries (Praj), announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended Sept 30, 2024.Company’s income from operations stood at Rs. 8,161.920 million in Q2FY25 (Q1 FY25: Rs. 6,991.414 million; Q2 FY24: Rs 8,823.685 million). Company reported Profit Before Tax (PBT) Rs 744.419 million for the period (Q1 FY25: Rs. 788.805 million; Q2 FY24: Rs 848.121 million). Company’s Profit After Tax is at Rs. 538.310 million in Q2FY25 (Q1 FY25: Rs. 841.807 million; Q2 FY24: 623.679 million). Order intake during the quarter Rs. 9,210 million (Q1 FY25: 8,880 million; Q2 FY24: Rs. 10,630 million)

In H1FY25 Company’s Income from operations stood at Rs. 15,153.334 million (H1 FY24: Rs. 16,190.912 million). Company’s PBT before exceptional items is at Rs. 1,533.224 million for the period (H1 FY24: Rs. 1,625.154 million). PBT after exceptional items Rs. 1,814.796 million. In H1FY25 company’s PAT stood at Rs. 1,380.117 million (H1 FY24: Rs. 1,210.405 million). Order intake Rs.18,090 million (H1 FY24: Rs. 21,640 million)

Commenting on the Company’s performance, Shishir Joshipura, CEO & MD, Praj Industries said, “The Bioenergy segment continues to develop positively as we witness our business growing in multiple dimensions, with healthy order and enquiry inflows from international, services and engineering verticals in the first half of the year. Several positive developments in the ecosystem and market augur well for continued growth journey as we move forward. Commissioning of our Demo plant for biopolymers opens a completely new dimension in form of renewable chemicals and materials segment. Our strong focus on R&D backed solutions will continue help us stay on our envisioned growth path”.

Key Developments:

 Inauguration of India’s first-of-its-kind Demo Facility for Biopolymers, showcasing indigenously developed integrated Polylactic Acid (PLA) technology at the hands of Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology, in the presence of Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Dept. of Biotechnology (DBT) and Dr. Ashish Lele (NCL).

Company’s Profit After Tax stood at Rs.

AgroPolicy, Allied Industry, Climate, Investments, Nature, R&D, Sustainability, Sustainable Energy

These R&D Units act as focal points for cutting-edge research, skill development, and knowledge dissemination, facilitating collaboration among stakeholders, including industry, academia, and Government towards driving innovations in Green Hydrogen technologies, leading to improved process efficiencies and new product development.

The Government of India has invited Proposals for setting up Centres of Excellence (CoE) under Research and Development (R&D) Scheme of National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Government of India aims to establish world-class Centers of Excellence for Green Hydrogen in India to foster promote sustainability, thereby enhancing energy independence in the long term. The Centers of Excellence would contribute towards transition to a low-carbon economy by advancing Green Hydrogen production, storage, and utilization technologies.

These R&D Units act as focal points for cutting-edge research, skill development, and knowledge dissemination, facilitating collaboration among stakeholders, including industry, academia, and Government towards driving innovations in Green Hydrogen technologies, leading to improved process efficiencies and new product development.

The Government has allotted Rs 100 crores for setting up such Centres, under the Green Hydrogen Mission.   MNRE had laid down guidelines for the implementation of R&D Scheme under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Under these guidelines, Public and Private entities including Research Institutions, Universities are supposed to form partnerships to submit proposals against this CfP.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission launched on 4th January 2023, with an outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores up to FY 2029-30 is supposed to contribute to India’s goal to become Aatma Nirbhar (self-reliant) through clean energy and serve as an inspiration for the global Clean Energy transition. The Mission will lead to significant decarbonization of the economy, reduced dependence on fossil fuel imports, and enable India to assume technology and market leadership in Green Hydrogen.

These R&D Units act as focal points

Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, Allied Industry, Live Stock

The initiative will help in focusing on attracting investments through investors meetings to foster partnerships with tuna-fishing nations and implementing training and capacity-building programs

The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has notified the Development of Tuna Cluster in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).Over the past decade, flagship initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) and the Blue Revolution have proved themselves as transformative agenda with an unprecedented investment of Rs 38,572 crores since 2015 in terms of increasing its efforts on the adoption of production and processing fisheries cluster-based approach with an end-to-end value chain in fisheries and aquaculture.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands offers huge potential for fisheries development, with around 6.0 lakh square km of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rich in under-exploited sea resources, particularly Tuna and Tuna like high valued species, estimated at 60,000 metric tons. Their proximity to Southeast Asian countries adds on to the geographical advantage in terms of efficient sea and air trade, while the pristine waters support sustainable fishing practices thus assisting in leveraging its marine resources for economic growth. The notification of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a tuna cluster is expected to generate economies of scale, increase incomes, and accelerate organized growth in fisheries across the country. The initiative will help in focusing on attracting investments through investors meetings to foster partnerships with tuna-fishing nations and implementing training and capacity-building programs, along with exposure visits for the stakeholders to promote reduce costs, promote innovation, and support sustainable practices. . Additionally, the initiative would result in development of infrastructure for fish landing, processing and export connectivity that is essential for streamlining operations and enhancing India’s global competitiveness in the sector.

The Department of Fisheries has also envisaged a roadmap to focus on cluster development across key areas, including Pearl, Seaweed, and Ornamental Fisheries; Reservoir Fisheries; Fishing Harbours; Saline Water Aquaculture; Cold Water Fisheries; Sea Cage Culture; Freshwater and Brackish-Water Fisheries; Deep Sea and Oceanic Fisheries; Organic Fisheries; Wetland Fisheries, and other areas tailored to specific sectoral and regional needs. The Department of Fisheries has already identified  Hazaribagh District in Jharkhand for pearl culture, Madurai District in Tamil for ornamental fisheries and UT of Lakshadweep for seaweed.

The initiative will help in focusing on

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, Fungicides, Herbicides, Seeds

Sales for the first nine months of 2024 at Syngenta Group, were $21.4 billion, down $3.0 billion or 12 percent year-on-year, compared to a strong first nine months in 2023.

Syngenta Group announced financial results for the third quarter with sales for the third quarter 2024 being $6.8 billion, flat compared to the prior year period (up 4 percent at CER).Sales for the first nine months of 2024 at Syngenta Group, were $21.4 billion, down $3.0 billion or 12 percent year-on-year, compared to a strong first nine months in 2023. Sales were down 9 percent at constant exchange rates (CER). EBITDA for the first nine months of the year was $2.7 billion, 23 per cent lower (-12 per cent at CER) year-on-year. The Group’s EBITDA margin for the first nine months of 2024 was 12.9 percent, down 1.7 percentage points compared to 14.6 percent in the same period last year.

Adverse weather conditions across key markets affected applications of crop protection products. Sustained price pressure, particularly in the commoditized segments of the crop protection portfolio (and notably in Latin America), and reduced grower profitability had an impact on demand. Crop commodity prices have continued to decline, reducing farmer income and hampering demand for input materials. The crop protection market is showing initial signs of recovery with channel inventories now closer to normal levels. Syngenta Group expects the market to further recover after the first half of 2025 with a market also less impacted by lower crop prices and overcapacity. Syngenta Group has continued to implement further initiatives to drive profitability improvements, streamlining operations and improving cash flow, including optimizing working capital.

Q3 2024

Q3 2024
Q3 2023
Change
Change (CER)

$bn$bn%%
Sales6.8
 6.8
0
4
EBITDA0.70.3112159

Syngenta Crop Protection Q3 sales of $3.3bn were down by 3 percent, driven by adverse currency effects in Brazil offsetting underlying volume growth as the market begins to stabilize. At a constant exchange rate sales were up 3 percent in the quarter. Biologicals delivered further growth. Customer buying behavior is shifting more towards a pre-pandemic pattern, which means products are being ordered closer to the time of application than in previous years where products were ordered earlier to account for extended delivery times.

The Seeds business delivered 3 percent year-on-year sales growth in the third quarter of 2024 (4% at CER). In Q3 2024, Syngenta Group China sales increased 11 percent compared to the same period last year. Sales growth was boosted by the market introduction of new seeds varieties and a strong growth momentum for biologicals. In the first nine months of the year, sales declined 10 percent due to price headwinds in active ingredients and the proactive reduction of low-margin business.

The Group will continue to leverage its industry-leading R&D pipeline for sustainable innovation and focus on expanding its digital platforms to help growers manage weather changes and make better, data-based decisions.

Syngenta Crop Protection

Syngenta Crop Protection sales were 16 percent lower at $9.5 billion in the first nine months of 2024. Biologicals delivered further strong growth in the first nine months, growing 5 percent versus the previous period in 2023. In the first nine months, sales in North America were 28 percent lower due to ongoing channel destocking. Sales were down 15 percent in Europe and 11 percent lower in Asia, the Middle East & Africa. Sales in Latin America were 13 percent lower. Sales in China were up 10 percent driven by strong growth momentum from new products and biologicals. During the quarter, the biologicals business continued to show promising growth with sales also up 10 percent.

Syngenta Seeds

Seeds sales were $3.2 billion in the first nine months of 2024, down 2 percent year-on-year.

Field Crop sales in Brazil were up 13 percent; China continued with very strong growth delivering 31 percent increase in sales; and North America was up 4 percent. Europe sales were 1 percent lower; Asia, Middle East & Africa down 24 percent; and LATAM sales 26 percent lower. Sales of Vegetable Seeds increased by 9 percent and sales of Flowers were 2 percent higher. Asia, Middle East & Africa saw high double-digit corn volume increase Q3 24 versus Q3 23 despite a very challenging regulatory environment. LATAM is working closely with farmers on last-minute decision making due to economic uncertainty and acreage shift due to corn stunt disease. Syngenta Vegetable Seeds opened a new world-class small seed processing facility in the U.S., increasing the processing volume of this business with up to 30 percent more capacity to meet growing demand for high-quality vegetable seeds. The business also hosted thousands of growers and industry stakeholders from around the world at innovation showcase events in the Netherlands and U.S.

In the third quarter in China, Crop Protection achieved three new formulation registrations. The advancement of the “Bio+” strategy in the crop nutrition business continued, with a 28 percent increase in biofertilizer gross profit. In Seeds, in the first nine months of 2024, 134 new varieties were certified, achieving the #1 ranking in newly approved rice and corn varieties.

Syngenta Group Summary Financials

Q3 2024

Q3 2024
Q3 2023
Q3 2024
Q3 2023
$bn
$bn
¥bn
¥bn
Sales6.8
6.8
48.3
48.4
Syngenta Crop Protection3.3
3.4
23.3
24.1
ADAMA0.9
1.0
6.6
7.3
Syngenta Seeds0.8
0.8
5.8
5.8
Syngenta Group China2.2
2.0
16.0
14.5
Eliminations-0.4
-0.4
-3.4
-3.3
EBITDA0.7
0.3
4.9
2.5

Sales for the first nine months of

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Digital Technologies, Farm Mechanisation, India

  Vitra.ai’s face augmentation technology enables Mahindra to deliver a first-of-its-kind seamless hyper-personalised video experience for customers

In continuation with celebrating 60 years of Mahindra Tractors, India’s No 1 tractor brand launched a unique virtual tractor drive experience for customers to generate a realistic, life like personalized video of themselves driving a Mahindra Tractor. Following the unveil of ‘Desh ka Tractor: ‘Mitti se juda, Junoon se Saja’, as a tribute to the Indian farming community, the virtual tractor drive was launched to foster a deeper connection with the brand, while capitalising on the celebratory mood of the festive season.

Partnering with Vitra.ai, a leader in AI-driven face augmentation technology for video personalization and translation, Mahindra Tractors aims to provide farmers with a personal “HERO MOMENT” of themselves alongside a Mahindra Tractor. Utilising cutting-edge rich media powered by advanced machine learning and deep learning methodologies, Vitra.ai’s face augmentation technology enables Mahindra to deliver a first-of-its-kind seamless hyper-personalised video experience for customers, in Mahindra Tractors campaign videos.

To generate a personalised video, users need to go through a simple intuitive process by visiting the Mahindra Tractors website and upload a picture of themselves, their cell phone number and location, for the video to be delivered over WhatsApp, in regional languages based on their location.

Commenting on the initiative, Vikram Wagh, Chief Executive Officer – Mahindra Tractors, said, “At Mahindra Tractors, we are excited to present the first-ever virtual tractor drive, a brand-new initiative that represents our brand at the forefront of technology beyond just our products for a deeper connection with our new and evolving farmers. The new initiative is a testament to the power of AI, through which we have already enabled over 250,000 experiences.”

Speaking about the Virtual Tractor Drive initiative at Mahindra Tractors, Satvik Jagannath – Co-founder & CEO, Vitra.ai, “Leveraging Vitra.ai’s state-of-the-art personalized and augmented AI-generated face-swap video technology for farm tractors, gives farmers an immersive experience, enabling them to connect with the Mahindra brand like never before. We are thrilled to have scaled this innovation to meet Mahindra’s high engagement goals, effectively and efficiently personalising their customer engagements for their widest range of tractors.”

  Vitra.ai’s face augmentation technology enables Mahindra

AgroPolicy, Finance, India, Schemes - Govt

The infusion of Equity is a significant step towards enhancing the operational capabilities of FCI in fulfilling its mandate effectively.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved infusion of equity of Rs 10,700 crore for working capital in financial year 2024-25 in Food Corporation of India (FCI).  The decision is aimed at bolstering the agricultural sector and ensuring the welfare of farmers nationwide. This strategic move shows the Government’s steadfast commitment to supporting farmers and fortifying India’s agrarian economy.

FCI started its journey in 1964 with authorised capital of Rs. 100 Crores and equity of Rs. 4 Crores.  The operations of FCI increased manifolds resulting in increase of authorised capital from Rs. 11,000 crores to Rs. 21,000 crores in February, 2023.  The equity of FCI was Rs. 4,496 Crores in Financial Year 2019-20 which increased to Rs. 10,157 Crores in the Financial Year 2023-24.  Now, Government of India has approved significant amount of equity of Rs. 10,700 Crores for FCI which will strengthen it financially and will give a big boost to the initiatives taken for its transformation. 

FCI plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security by procurement of food grains at Minimum Support Price (MSP), maintenance of strategic food grain stocks, distribution of food grains for welfare measure and stabilization of food grain prices in the market.

The infusion of Equity is a significant step towards enhancing the operational capabilities of FCI in fulfilling its mandate effectively. FCI resorts to short term borrowings to match the gap of fund requirement. This infusion will help to lower the interest burden and will ultimately reduce the subsidy of Government of India.

The Government’s dual commitment to MSP-based procurement and investment in FCI’s operational capabilities signifies a collaborative effort towards empowering farmers, fortifying the agricultural sector, and ensuring food security for the nation.

The infusion of Equity is a significant

Agribusiness, Drones, Finance, Funding, India

Company plans to use the funds in developing advanced agricultural drones tailored to customer needs, expanding its channel partner network and service centres in Tier II and III cities.

Drone technology firm Marut Drones has bagged $6.2 million in Series A funding from investment firm Lok Capital. The Hyderabad-based company plans to use the funds in initiatives, including developing advanced agricultural drones tailored to customer needs, expanding its channel partner network and service centres in Tier II and III cities, and establishing drone agriculture service hubs to provide Drone-as-a-Service through partnerships.

“The fresh capital will allow us to make investments in building our team, increasing our manufacturing capacity to 3,000 drones per annum and marketing to continue scaling at a rapid pace to reach a revenue target of Rs1000 crore in the next five years,” CEO and co-founder Prem Kumar Vislawath said.

Company mentioned that it plans to allocate funds towards several initiatives, including development of advanced agricultural drones tailored to customer needs, expand channel partner network and service centres into tier 2-3 cities to better serve rural customers and establish drone agriculture service hubs to offer drone-as-a-service. Across all verticals, it aims to recruit professionals besides promoting drone entrepreneurship, launch 17 new drone academies to train skilled professionals and enhance research and development efforts towards creating advanced applications like direct seeding and crop monitoring.

Founded in 2019 by three IIT Alumni—Prem Kumar Vislawath, Suraj Peddi and Sai Kumar Chinthala- Marut Drones aims to play a pivotal role in modernising agriculture across diverse geographies. The drone tech company intends to create rural employment opportunities for Tier II and III cities, contributing to enhanced productivity and reduced input costs for farmers.

“We are excited to partner with the team at Marut to bring solutions to farmers and the broader rural economy,” Hari Krishnan, Director of Lok Capital, said in a statement.

“Drones for agriculture are a novel technology that can secure the health of crops, while also saving water, preserving soil health, avoiding exposure to chemicals, increase yield to farmers and providing income to village-level entrepreneurs,” Krishnan added.

 Marut Drones Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Prem Kumar Vislawath, noted that the fresh capital will also allow the firm to make investments in building its team, increasing its manufacturing capacity to 3000 drones per annum, and marketing. The company has over 200 team members and a fleet of 750 drones and over 1,000 drone pilots across 14 states in India.

It plans to recruit professionals across all verticals and foster drone entrepreneurship. The firm also intends to launch 17 new drone academies to train skilled professionals and enhance its research and development efforts in partnership with leading institutions in India to create advanced applications like direct seeding and crop monitoring.

The Hyderabad-based company is also exploring disaster management and surveillance applications as it intends to become a comprehensive drone technology provider. It aims to reach a revenue target of 1000 crore in the next five years. Drone startups secured $50 million in investment in FY24, marking a threefold increase from the previous year, according to NITI Aayog. A report by NITI Aayog notes that the unmanned aerial vehicle market in India is projected to reach $15 billion by 2030.

The Indian drone market is expected to grow significantly, with drone volumes increasing to 61,393 units by 2029 from 10,803 units in 2024, according to projections by markets research firm Markets and Markets.

Company plans to use the funds in

Agribusiness, India, Sugar industry

ISMA estimated 333 lac tons of gross sugar production in 2024-25

sugar production for 2024-25 (ISMA) had released its preliminary estimates of sugar production for 2024-25 SS on 30th July’2024, as 333 lac tons of gross sugar production. The same was based on the pan India imagery taken in 3rd week of June’2024 and findings of field reports, considering normal monsoon. As is the practice, Pan India Imagery was taken in 3rd week of October’2024 and the same was discussed in our Executive Committee meeting held on 5th November’2024. It was noted that crop condition looks good in the major sugarcane producing states and field reports also align with the findings of the satellite mapping report. 

Accordingly, ISMA is releasing its 1st advance estimates as gross production of 333 lac tons (before diversion), similar to our preliminary estimate, as per the following table:

(Figures in Lac tons)

S. NoStates2023-24 (P)2024-25 1st Advance estimates(November’24) 
1Maharashtra118.48111.02
2Karnataka58.0858.07
3Uttar Pradesh110.00110.10
4Others54.0853.81
5Gross Total (estimated)340.64333.00 
6Estimated diversion towards ethanol21 
7 Net sugar production319.64

Sufficient availability of sugar, as indicated above will not only ensure a comfortable stock for domestic consumption and sustain the Ethanol Blending Program (EBP), but also open the room for exports, contributing to maintain the financial liquidity of sugar mills, enabling timely payments to farmers.

 Projected sugar balance for 2024-25 SS

S.No.Particulars2024-25 (E)(Fig. in Lac tons)
aOpening Stock as on 1st Oct’202484.79
bGross production during Season (Without diversion for ethanol)333.00
cTotal Availability (a+b)417.79
 dInternal Consumption290
eEstimated sugar diversion towards ethanol40
fClosing Stock as on 30th Sept’2025 (c-d-e)87.79

ISMA estimated 333 lac tons of gross

Agro Universities, India, People

Dr Hughes has over 30 years’ experience in agricultural research for development and is highly regarded for her leadership in tackling the pressing global challenges of food insecurity, sustainable agriculture.

Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, outgoing Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), headquartered in Hyderabad, India, is set to take up the role of Secretary General of the World Agriculture Forum in mid-November 2024. Her extensive career, marked by groundbreaking work in sustainable agriculture, equips her to steer the Forum towards its mission. As Secretary General, Dr Hughes will focus on strengthening alliances and advancing innovative solutions in agriculture, ensuring the World Agriculture Forum is well-positioned to address the evolving needs of the sector globally. Her appointment is a testament to WAF’s commitment to bringing visionary leaders on board.

Dr Hughes has over 30 years’ experience in agricultural research for development and is highly regarded for her leadership in tackling the pressing global challenges of food insecurity, sustainable agriculture, and rural development in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.

Trained in the United Kingdom, Dr Hughes holds a PhD from Reading University and began her career with postdoctoral work before working with national partners in Ghana. Throughout her career, Dr Hughes has held international leadership positions in prestigious agricultural institutes across Africa and Asia, equipping her with a profound understanding of the unique challenges faced by these regions.

A distinguished plant virologist, Dr Hughes has strong interests in remote sensing, digitalisation, and gender equity. She continues to champion the integration of modern technologies, plant quarantine best practices, and the ethical use of intellectual property to enhance agricultural outcomes. Dr Hughes believes in both working locally for global impact and working globally for local impact.

As Director General of ICRISAT, Dr Hughes adeptly led the Institute through the global pandemic, achieving significant milestones despite unprecedented challenges. Under her leadership, ICRISAT was honoured with the Africa Food Prize 2021 and welcomed the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, at the Institute’s 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2022. Dr Hughes further strengthened ICRISAT’s influence as a leader in dryland agriculture in 2023, actively participating in the agriculture meetings of the G20 Summit held in New Delhi and serving as co-Chair of the International Steering Committee for the United Nations’ International Year of Millets.

Rudy Rabbinge, Chairman of the World Agriculture Forum, remarked: “Dr Hughes brings to the World Agriculture Forum a wealth of experience and a commitment to agricultural innovation that is critical to achieving our mission. Her proven ability to deliver impactful results, her deep understanding of the international agricultural landscape, and her vision for sustainable intensification will strengthen the World Agriculture Forum’s position as a leader and partner in addressing food and nutrition security worldwide.”

Dr Hughes has over 30 years’ experience

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, Finance, India

Company’s profit after tax for the quarter was at Rs. 659 Cr as against Rs. 755 Cr for the quarter ended September 2023.

Coromandel International Limited, India’s leading Agri solutions provider is in the business of Fertilisers, Crop Protection Chemicals, Bio products, Specialty Nutrients, Organic Fertiliser and Retail. The Company has reported the financial results for the quarter ended 30th September 2024.

Company reported Total Income of Rs. 7,509 Crore in Q2 vs Rs. 7,031 Cr for the corresponding quarter of last year. Company’s EBITDA for Q2 was Rs. 983 Cr vs. Rs. 1,064 Cr for the corresponding quarter of last year. Company has posted Rs 696 Crore Profit After Tax in Q2 was vs Rs 762 Cr in Q2 for the corresponding quarter of last year. Company’s Total Income in H1 was at Rs. 12,277 Cr vs Rs. 12,771 Cr for the corresponding period of last year. Company reported Rs 1,490 Cr EBITDA for H1 vs. Rs. 1,774 Cr for the corresponding period of last year. Company’s PAT for H1 was 1,027 Cr vs Rs. 1,267 Cr for the corresponding period of last year.

Nutrient and Allied Business

The Revenue for the quarter ended September 2024 was at Rs. 6,746 Cr as against Rs. 6,307 Cr for the quarter ended September 2023. Profit before interest and tax for the quarter was Rs. 861 Cr vs. Rs. 998 Cr for the quarter ended September 2023.

The Revenue for the first half was at Rs. 10,944 Cr compared with Rs. 11,499 Cr in the corresponding period of the previous year. Profit before interest and tax for the first half was Rs. 1,297 Cr vs. Rs. 1,670 Cr in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Crop Protection Business

The Revenue for the quarter ended September 2024 was at Rs. 755 Cr as against Rs. 722 Cr for the quarter ended September 2023. Profit before interest and tax for the quarter was Rs. 110 Cr vs. Rs. 88 Cr for the quarter ended September 2023.

The Revenue for the first half was at Rs. 1,306 Cr compared with Rs. 1,278 Cr in the corresponding period of the previous year. Profit before interest and tax for the first half was Rs. 173 Cr vs. Rs. 143 Cr in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Consolidated Results

Coromandel’s total income for the quarter ended September 2024 was at Rs. 7,498 Cr vs. Rs. 7,033 Cr for the quarter ended September 2023. The profit after tax for the quarter was at Rs. 659 Cr as against Rs. 755 Cr for the quarter ended September 2023.

Coromandel’s total income for the first half was at Rs. 12,281 Cr vs. Rs. 12,771 Cr in the corresponding period of the previous year. The profit after tax for the first half was at Rs. 968 Cr as against Rs. 1,249 Cr in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Commenting on the financial results, Sankarasubramanian S, Managing Director & CEO, Coromandel International Ltd., said, “Company registered a healthy performance in Q2, led by higher sales volumes and improved operational efficiencies across the businesses. The company continues to make sequential recovery quarter on quarter, despite lower subsidy rates and firming up of raw material prices. Favourable agricultural environment like above normal monsoon and higher crop sowing supported agri inputs consumption. During the quarter, fertiliser business of the company increased its primary sale volumes by 13per cent and improved its consumption share to 20 per cent.

The company has taken steps to secure its backend supply chain and has been setting up intermediate capacities over the past few years, besides foraying into mining at Senegal. In January 2024, we had announced Sulphuric acid (2000 TPD) and Phosphoric acid (650 TPD) plants at Kakinada and the projects are progressing as per plan and are likely to be commissioned by early 2026, thereby making all of the company’s fertiliser manufacturing sites backward integrated and reducing their dependence on imports.

Company’s profit after tax for the quarter

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, India, Oilseeds

The total Kharif Foodgrain production for 2024-25, is projected at 1647.05 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) which is higher by 89.37 LMT as compared to previous year kharif foodgrain production.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has released First Advance Estimates of production of Major Agricultural Crops (Kharif Only) for the year 2024-25. These estimates have been primarily prepared on the basis of information received from States.

The crop area received from the States have been validated and triangulated with information received from Remote Sensing, Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group and other agencies. Further, DA&FW took the initiative of Stakeholder consultation with representatives from the industry and other Governmental Departments to receive their opinion, views and sentiments for the current kharif season. These have also been considered while finalising the estimates.

For the first time, data from the Digital Crop Survey (DCS) which is being conducted under Digital Agriculture Mission in collaboration with State Governments has been utilized to prepare area estimates. This survey which is envisaged to replace the manual Girdawari system is an important step towards arriving at robust crop area estimates. DCS based Crop Area Estimation has been done for the States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Odisha wherein 100 per cent districts are covered under DCS in Kharif 2024. This has led to substantial rise in area under rice particularly in Uttar Pradesh.

The total Kharif Foodgrain production for 2024-25, as per the First Advance Estimates, is projected at 1647.05 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) which is higher by 89.37 LMT as compared to previous year kharif foodgrain production and 124.59 LMT higher than average kharif foodgrain production. Foodgrain production witnessed record increase due to good production of Rice, Jowar and Maize.

The total production of Kharif Rice during 2024-25 is estimated to be 1199.34 LMT which is higher by 66.75 LMT than the previous year kharif rice production and 114.83 LMT higher than average kharif rice production. The Kharif Maize production is estimated at 245.41 LMT and Kharif Nutri/coarse cereals is estimated to be 378.18 LMT. Further, the total Kharif pulses production during 2024-25 is estimated to be 69.54 LMT.

The total Kharif oilseeds production in the country during 2024-25 is estimated to be 257.45 LMT which is higher by 15.83 LMT than the previous year total kharif oilseeds production. The Kharif Groundnut production for 2024-25 is estimated at 103.60 LMT and Soybean production is estimated at 133.60 LMT.

The production of Sugarcane in the country during 2024-25 is estimated to be 4399.30 lakh tonnes. The production of Cotton is estimated to be 299.26 lakh bales (of 170 kg each). The production of Jute and Mesta is estimated to be 84.56 lakh bales (of 180 kg each).

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

Total kharif Foodgrains–1647.05 LMT (record)

Rice – 1199.34 LMT (record)

Maize – 245.41 LMT (record)

Nutri / Coarse Cereals – 378.18 LMT

Total Pulses – 69.54 LMT

Tur – 35.02 LMT

Urad – 12.09 LMT

Moong – 13.83 LMT

Total Oilseeds–257.45 LMT

Groundnut – 103.60 LMT

Soybean –133.60 LMT

Sugarcane – 4399.30 LMT

Cotton – 299.26 Lakh Bales (170 Kgs. each)

Jute& Mesta – 84.56 Lakh Bales (180 Kgs. each)

The Crop yields estimates are majorly based on trend/normal yield, coupled with other ground level inputs and expectations. This yield will undergo revision based on receipt of actual yield ascertained through conduct of Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) during the time of harvest, which in return would be reflected in the subsequent production estimates.

The total Kharif Foodgrain production for 2024-25,

Agribusiness, Company News, Speciality Chemicals, Trade, World

The divestiture of GSS is a key step in FMC’s strategic plan to focus solely on innovating products and services for the global crop protection market.

FMC Corporation and Environmental Science U.S. LLC, known as Envu, announced the successful completion of the sale of FMC’s Global Specialty Solutions (GSS) business to Envu. The companies announced the signing of a definitive acquisition agreement on July 11, 2024, and have now satisfied all necessary conditions and regulatory approvals.

The divestiture of GSS, which includes a line of products that serve a diverse mix of non-crop markets such as golf courses, professional sports stadiums and pest control, is a key step in FMC’s strategic plan to focus solely on innovating products and services for the global crop protection market.

“The successful sale of our GSS business to Envu marks an important milestone for FMC,” said Pierre Brondeau, FMC Chairman and CEO. “This transaction enables us to further sharpen our focus on our core agricultural business while ensuring the GSS business and employees have the right partner in Envu to support their continued growth and success. We look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Envu to ensure a smooth transition and drive innovation in the non-crop market.”

As part of the agreement, FMC will work with Envu through the companies’ transition period and will remain a contracted supplier of key products and actives. This ongoing collaboration will support a seamless transition for customers and employees while allowing Envu continued access to innovation.

“This is a very exciting day for Envu, and we believe for our customers as well,” said Gilles Galliou, Envu CEO. “Now that the deal is closed, we will move quickly to begin integrating the GSS team and exploring ways that we can leverage our collective strengths to deliver more innovation and more value for our customers. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with FMC as a trusted supplier and partner.”

The divestiture of GSS is a key