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Acquaculture, AgroPolicy, Finance, India, Schemes - Govt

Department of Fisheries provides financial assistance for formation of 2195 FFPOs under PMMSY and around 95 FFPOs on board on ONDC network.

With an aim to hold strategic discussions with States/UTs to deliberate on the progress and way forward for the development of the fisheries sector, Department of Fisheries, Government of India organised the ‘Fisheries Summer Meet 2024’ at Madurai, Tamil Nadu. A total of 321 impactful projects under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with an outlay of Rs.114 Crore, covering 19 State/UTs were virtually inaugurated by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj Shri Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh.

The union minister inaugurated an exhibition that showcased various aquaculture technologies such as RAS, BioFloc, technologies used for ornamental fisheries, pearl cultivation etc. Rajiv Ranjan Singh also distributed KCC, presented PMMSY achievement award letters to beneficiaries and felicitated FFPOs onboarded on Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC). He also interacted with the entrepreneurs and scientists during the walkthrough of the exhibition.

Department of Fisheries (GoI) has provided financial assistance for formation of 2195 FFPOs under PMMSY and around 95 FFPOs have been onboarded on the ONDC network. This collaboration with ONDC has served numerous benefits for the FFPOs like reduced transaction costs, increased market reach, improved transparency, increased competition & competitiveness, innovation, employment generation etc. Six participants onboarded onto the ONDC network, namely, Gorakhpur Kissan Producer Company Limited, District Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Kapsi Fishery Farmer Producer Company Ltd., District Kanker, Chhattisgarh, Banmankhi Fish Farmer Company Limited, District, Purnia, Bihar, Bastarpearl Fish Farmer Producer Company Limited, Bastar, Chhattisgarh, Lari Fish Producer Company Ltd., District Deoria, Uttar Pradesh and Kondapaka Fisheries Producer Company Limited, District Siddipet, Telangana were felicitated for their contribution in the growth of the Fisheries sector during the event.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh also distributed KCC certificates and PMMSY sanction orders to the beneficiaries. The recipient beneficiaries for ornamental fisheries units included Yogeshwari W/o. Kathiresh Kumar, Ms Suguna W/o. Muthu Pandi, Ms Sindhu W/o. Sudhakar, Ms Kalaiyarasi W/o. Sakthivel and Ms Pachaiyammal W/o. Mathialagan.

Department of Fisheries provides financial assistance for

Agribusiness, Agro Universities, Company News, India, Sustainability

 The collaboration aims to enhance training and capacity-building programs for farmers and rural youth, focusing on climate-resilient agriculture practices and agricultural skill training.

In their concerted stride towards mitigating the effects of climate change, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Syngenta Foundation India (SFI), and Syngenta India Pvt. Ltd. have signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Foundation Day of ICAR. The collaboration aims to enhance training and capacity-building programs for farmers and rural youth, focusing on climate-resilient agriculture practices and agricultural skill training through ICAR’s extensive network of National Research Institutes, Regional Stations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and Agricultural Universities.

Under this agreement, ICAR institutes and KVKs will actively participate in training programs organized by SFI and Syngenta India and vice versa. The KVKs would extend these learnings to a wider farmers’ base through their extensive network. The collaboration will focus on capacity building and extension activities, including the adoption of climate-resilient agriculture practices, safe and proper use of crop protection chemicals, and the use of precision agriculture tools such as drones, IT, IoT, and AI-based techniques.

Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICAR, said, “This partnership is a major milestone in our efforts to equip farmers and rural youth with the necessary skills and knowledge for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture. By leveraging the strengths of ICAR, Syngenta Foundation, and Syngenta India, we can reach the grassroots level and make a substantial impact.”

In fact, the objectives of this MoU align with Syngenta’s new sustainability commitments, which focus on: Higher yields, lower impact; Regenerate soil and nature; Improve rural prosperity; and Sustainable operations. Syngenta India has been working extensively on climate-resilient practices including soil health, regenerative agriculture, precision farming and possesses in-built capacities to extend the knowledge through the network of Agri Entrepreneurs along with SFI.

Susheel Kumar, Country Head and MD, Syngenta India Pvt. Ltd., highlighted the importance of this collaboration, saying, “Our quality R&D, climate-resilient practices and many decades of experience of working with farmers enable us to contribute significantly to this collaboration. Having worked with farmers and rural youth through a series of innovative programs, we consider this as yet another decisive step forward in enhancing the quality of life for smallholder farmers and rural youth and contribute to our efforts at mitigating the challenges of climate change.”

Dr K C Ravi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Syngenta India Pvt Ltd highlighted how this MoU was also in sync with Syngenta’s unique I Rise (Inculcate Rural India Skill Enhancement) initiative, designed to engage rural youth in agriculture and provide them appropriate skills and help them to explore dignified and sustainable income earning opportunities in agriculture sector. This program was initiated with the pilot project in 2023 to train 1000 rural youth in 3Es approach i.e., Educate youth in agriculture through the training and mentoring program, engage them in Agri sector through employment, entrepreneurship, or by becoming a lead farmer and elevate their livelihood income.

Rajendra Jog, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation India, highlighted the collaboration’s potential, stating, “Over the years, we have developed a huge network of agri-entrepreneurs (AEs) who are trained in modern agriculture practices and extend their knowledge and knowhow to millions of farmers across the country. Our partnership with ICAR and KVKs will enable us to leverage our network of AEs to extend comprehensive training to many more farmers and rural youth.”

The partnership also aims to promote efficient agronomic practices, support KVKs, agri-entrepreneurs, dealers, distributors, and farmers through awareness and education programs, and enhance mechanization solutions in selected clusters. The parties will explore the use of AI and ML techniques to provide expert advisory services to farmers, helping them optimize input usage and reduce costs.

 The collaboration aims to enhance training and

Agribusiness, AgroPolicy

To facilitate the widespread adoption of technology, the budget should also incentivise the private sector participation in building a robust agricultural innovation ecosystem.

The Union Budget 2024-25 is on the horizon, and with it comes a wave of anticipation for allocations and reforms from India’s agrarian community. There are numerous existing schemes for agriculture sector, but their efficiency needs to improve. Agri industry is looking forward to positive changes in policy and financial support for R& D in agri- technology in upcoming budget.

Raju Kapoor, Director, Industry & Public Affairs, FMC India shared his views on upcoming Union budget which will be presented in parliament on July 23.

“The agricultural sector which is the backbone of the Indian economy has been through a challenging year. With monsoon playing truant, agricultural growth has diminished from 4.7 per cent last year to 1.4 per cent, which further added to the rural distress. This budget presents a crucial opportunity to address these concerns and propel the sector towards a brighter future. The government must prioritise agriculture and rural India, focusing on making farmers more resilient while simultaneously mitigating food inflation that disproportionately affects society’s underprivileged segments.

Firstly, the budget must acknowledge the stark reality of food inflation, aggravated by stock restrictions on essential commodities such as pulses, wheat, and rice. This disproportionately affects the most vulnerable sections of society, demanding immediate attention. Similarly, the import dependence on pulses and oilseeds, the government’s commitment to providing free rations under the Annapurna Yojana, and climate change further necessitate a robust domestic production system supported by developing an innovation ecosystem.

The government should prioritise R&D investments aligned with national priorities, focusing on developing climate-resilient crop varieties, microbial products, and sustainable farming practices. To facilitate the widespread adoption of technology, the budget should also incentivize the private sector participation in building a robust agricultural innovation ecosystem. Tax incentives for R&D investments by the private sector can encourage the development and integration of cutting-edge technologies. Furthermore, GST on agricultural inputs, such as agrochemicals, should be brought under the GST Council’s purview and potentially lowered to 12% maximum to ease the financial burden on farmers.

The Kisan Samridhi Yojana should be strengthened to empower farmers with greater financial support and its utilization at farmers’ hands should be linked to the use of advanced agricultural inputs. Kisan Samruddhi coupons that could be used to purchase agricultural inputs would enhance productivity. This will ensure timely access to essential resources and subsequent financial support to the farmers. We expect that the budget should have adequate resources for capacity-building initiatives, and should incentivize the investments by private companies to train farmer groups, particularly women, creating awareness and adoption of modern growing practices.  Easy access to adequate and affordable credit will further empower farmers to be able to adopt these technologies and enhance their livelihoods.

Extending the PLI scheme for production and export of latest innovation crop protection chemicals in India will provide long term dividend to India. Similarly, aligned to the theme of making India the Global Drone Hub, expanding the PLI scheme for building the agri-drone component manufacturing ecosystem will go a long way.      

In a nutshell, we envisage that this budget is focused on agriculture, which will further lay the foundation for a strong, sustainable, and prosperous future for Indian farmers and the nation.”

To facilitate the widespread adoption of technology,

AgroPolicy, India, Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation

Docking of MV San Fernando ship, with a capacity of 9000 TEUs marks India’s foray into Next Gen World Class Port Infrastructure.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal received the first Mother Ship ‘MV San Fernando’ marking the beginning of operation at India’s First deep water container transhipment port in Vizhinjam, Kerala. The ship, with a capacity upto 9000 TEUs, docks at India’s first automated port which is equipped with state of the art that offers large scale automation for quick turnaround of vessels including capacity to handle megamax containerships. The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinari Vijayan was also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “Today is a historic day for the maritime sector of India as the maiden mothership docks at Vizhinjam, India’s first truly deep-water International Container Transhipment terminal. This is the testament of the vision of ‘Make in India’ where a PPP collaboration among Govt. of Kerala, Govt. of India as well as the Adani Port SEZ has created a wonderful asset for growth of India’s maritime sector. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is equipping and enabling entrepreneurial ventures and collaborating as and when required to build capacity for the cause of nation building. This wonderful achievement marks the beginning of a new era in the ports sector of the country.  We are working towards execution of Mega Port Projects including All Weather Deep Draft Port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra and International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Galathea Bay in a mission mode.”

Vizhinjam Port is a strategic maritime project near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. This is the first Greenfield port project in India, initiated by a state Government with an investment exceeding ₹18,000 crores. Developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, it stands as one of the largest initiatives in the country’s port sector. Vizhinjam’s strategic location near international shipping routes significantly reduces transit times for vessels, making it a pivotal point for maritime trade. As one of India’s few natural deep-water ports, it can efficiently accommodate large cargo and container ships.

The development of the Vizhinjam International Seaport is poised to boost Kerala’s economic growth by creating jobs, enhancing trade, and attracting investments. Ongoing infrastructure projects aim to equip the port with state-of-the-art facilities, including modern container terminals, warehouses, and logistics parks. Vizhinjam is set to become a key player in regional trade, potentially serving as a gateway for commerce between Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Docking of MV San Fernando ship, with

AgroPolicy, Finance, India, Schemes - NABARD, Start ups

Under this Blended Capital Fund, an equal contribution of Rs 250 crores each will be provided by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and NABARD

The Government is poised to launch the ‘Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE) to support start-ups and agripreneurs through investments in sector-specific, sector-agnostic, and debt Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), as well as direct equity support to start-ups working in Agriculture and allied sectors This initiative aims to foster innovation and sustainability in India’s agricultural sector through the establishment of a Rs 750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF). The fund will offer both equity and debt support, specifically targeting high-risk, high- impact activities in the agriculture value chain.

The announcement was made at the Pre-Launch Stakeholder meet held at NABARD Headquarters in Mumbai. The event was attended by key stakeholders, including financial institutions, investors, AIF managers, and agri-startups. Distinguished guests included Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary, DA&FW; Shaji K.V., Chairman, NABARD; Govardhan Singh Rawat, DMD, NABARD; and Dr Ajay Kumar Sood, DMD, NABARD.

In his address, Ajeet Kumar Sahu highlighted the fund’s potential to create an ecosystem that enhances financing for the agriculture sector through innovative approaches, benefiting small and marginal farmers. Shri Shaji K.V. emphasized the need for public and private sector collaboration to drive the next level of growth in agriculture through technological innovations.

While explaining the features of the fund CEO NABVENTURES briefed that the fund will be set up with an initial corpus of ₹750 Crore with 250 crores each from NABARD and the Ministry of Agriculture, and 250 crores from other institutions. The fund will focus on innovation in agriculture, enhancing the farm produce value chain, creating rural infrastructure, generating employment, and supporting Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs). The fund will also encourage IT-based solutions and machinery rental services for farmers. NABVENTURES, a wholly owned subsidiary of NABARD, will be the Fund manager of AgriSURE. The fund is designed to operate for 10 years, extendable by two or more years.

Underscoring its commitment to fostering innovation, NABARD also launched the AgriSURE Greenathon 2024. The hackathon aims to address three key problem statements: “Smart Agriculture on a Budget,” which tackles the high cost of advanced agriculture technologies that hinder small and marginal farmers; “Turning Agri-Waste into Profitable Business Opportunities,” focusing on transforming agricultural waste into profitable ventures; and “Tech Solutions Making Regenerative Agriculture Remunerative,” which aims to overcome economic hurdles in adopting regenerative agriculture practices.

NABARD called upon participation from young innovative minds to contribute to the journey of our country towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ with their innovative solutions to alleviate the flailing issues of the agriculture.

Under this Blended Capital Fund, an equal

Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Digital Technologies, North America

Through this online resource, growers can make informed decisions about their fungicide applications by using the disease ID guide and accessing local trial information.

Syngenta announced its newest online resource for all things disease management and planning is now available on www.BoostYourBushels.com. This latest website update will enable users to discover a variety of tools that can help them make the most educated decisions for improving the overall health of their corn, soybean and wheat crops.

One of the newest additions is the disease ID guide. Users can browse this guide to not only identify the diseases present in their fields but to also understand which may be prevalent in their region. The guide provides information that discusses the signs, symptoms and potential solutions for diseases to help with scouting and management.

“It really is a one-stop spot for everything growers may need to learn about a disease and their fungicide applications for the year,” said Logan Romines, Syngenta fungicide product lead. “They can see what diseases are of concern in their area, as well as the identifying factors of those diseases. If they aren’t quite positive about which disease they’re seeing, the guide can help them confirm what the disease is and what steps to take to protect their yield.”

The disease ID guide isn’t the only new resource on the updated website. Users also have access to a catalog of local Cleaner & Greener* fungicide trial results and a calculator to compare their potential fungicide return on investment.

“Every growing season comes with a multitude of unpredictable challenges, but understanding which fungicide works best in your field helps protect your bottom line,” says Tyler Harp, Ph.D., Syngenta fungicide technical product lead. “By tapping into our online tools, you can see the benefits of using specific Cleaner & Greener fungicides, * which contain exclusive Adepidyn® and Solatenol® technologies and calculate how those benefits will create results at the end of the season for a more confident decision.”

Through this online resource, growers can make

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, Europe

Production of glufosinate-ammonium (GA) at Knapsack and Frankfurt sites expected to stop by 2024/2025.

BASF plans to cease production of the active ingredient glufosinate-ammonium (GA) at the Knapsack and Frankfurt sites in Germany by the end of 2024 due to economic reasons. The GA formulation in Frankfurt will end in 2025. Subsequently, both production facilities will be shut down. Glufosinate-ammonium remains a key component of BASF’s global herbicide portfolio.

BASF’s GA production is increasingly affected by rising competition from generic manufacturers, alternative technologies as well as high energy and raw material costs. Despite both production facilities achieving cost reductions, BASF’s volume and profitability development is insufficient. BASF is therefore restructuring its production network and will source the active ingredient from third-party suppliers in the future. In doing so, the company is securing its long-term competitiveness and profitability in the GA market.

All jobs (approximately 300) will be retained until the end of 2025, and then gradually reduced in consultation with employee representatives. The company will work closely with the employees to assist in finding future employment opportunities.

“We deeply regret having to discontinue production at the two sites despite the high commitment of our employees over the past years,” said Michael Heinz, Member of the Board of Executive Directors at BASF. “We remain committed to providing our customers with top-quality GA solutions. At the same time, we will continue to focus on the development of next-generation GA solutions that achieve the same results with significantly lower application rates, benefiting farmers in the Americas and Asia.”

The active ingredient glufosinate-ammonium is one of the most widely used broad-spectrum herbicides and controls weeds in a vatiety of crops worldwide.

Production of glufosinate-ammonium (GA) at Knapsack and

Agribusiness, Company News, Seeds, World

Trusource wheat will be available to food companies to trial in product development and evaluation in late 2024.

Corteva Agriscience announced its new brand, Trusource™ wheat, a high fiber durum that can help meet consumers’ needs for increased dietary fiber through use in high-volume foods such as pasta. Trusource wheat will be available to food companies to trial in product development and evaluation in late 2024, with North American commercialization plans for farmers to be announced in the coming years.

“We have used traditional breeding techniques to enable the taste and texture of Trusource wheat to better match the traditional sensory experience consumers want in pasta and baked goods while increasing their fiber intake with high fiber Trusource wheat,” said Michael Reimer, Innovation Manager – Value-Added Ingredients, Corteva Agriscience.

Trusource wheat is an exciting addition to the new Value-Added Ingredients category from Corteva, which includes existing high stability Omega-9 Canola Oil and Plenish® high oleic soybean oil as well as a robust innovation pipeline. High stability oils are readily available through most major oil producers.  Produced from Corteva seeds, these innovative food ingredients deliver the great taste and improved nutrition consumers demand and are easily integrated into food industry applications.

“Consumers are increasingly asking for improved ingredients, and agriculture innovation is helping the food industry meet that demand,” said Tyler Groeneveld, North American Director – Value-Added Ingredients, Corteva Agriscience. “This collaboration adds value for our farmers, the food industry and, ultimately, the consumer.”

Crops for Value-Added Ingredients are grown under an identity preservation (IP) system, supporting traceability and sustainability programs, and carry the strong agronomic traits farmers seek.

Trusource wheat will be available to food

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, India

This will help the company expand its product offerings by adding the Ethoxylation technology to its portfolio of process and batch technologies.

Godrej Industries’ Chemicals Business announced the signing of a business transfer agreement with Shree Vallabh Chemicals Unit II (Kheda), with the intention to acquire their Ethoxylation Unit II. As a leading player in Oleochemicals, Surfactants, Specialities and Biotech, this transaction will help the company expand its product offerings by adding the Ethoxylation technology to its portfolio of process and batch technologies.

Located at Kheda, Gujarat, the Shree Vallabh Ethoxylation unit II has a manufacturing capacity of 24,000 MTPA of finished products.

Vishal Sharma, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Godrej Industries (Chemicals) said, “Aligned with our commitment to growth and innovation, the proposed acquisition of the unit will aid us in expanding our offerings and also cater to new applications for our customers. By enabling us to accelerate the investment timeline, we are confident that it will also provide us with various cost synergies.”

Company drives business through sustainability, customer centricity, and renewable resources-focused chemistries, with a global presence in more than 80 countries. With two manufacturing locations (Maharashtra & Gujarat) and a state-of-the-art R&D Center in India, company specialise in delivering tailored solutions to meet specific applications and performance requirements.

This will help the company expand its

Agribusiness, AgroPolicy, India, Supply Chain, Transportation

It reflects a 4.78 per cent growth compared to the 39.25 MMT achieved during the same period in the previous fiscal year, FY 2023-24.

Paradip Port Authority (PPA) has marked a momentous achievement in its operational history, clocking an unprecedented 41.12 million Metric Tons (MMT) cargo handling within the first 100 days of the fiscal year 2024-25. This outstanding performance sets a new record for the port, reflecting a 4.78 per cent growth compared to the 39.25 MMT achieved during the same period in the previous fiscal year, FY 2023-24.

This significant accomplishment underscores the port’s critical role in bolstering India’s maritime infrastructure and its unwavering commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and capacity. Under the dynamic leadership and visionary guidance of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, PPA has surpassed its previous benchmarks, showcasing notable growth and efficiency in its operations.

PPA Chairman, P.L. Haranadh, expressed his deep gratitude to the Minister, attributing this monumental success to his unwavering support and strategic direction.

This achievement highlights Paradip Port Authority’s ongoing commitment to setting new benchmarks in cargo handling and contributing significantly to the nation’s economic growth. As PPA continues to expand its capabilities and improve its services, it remains dedicated to supporting India’s maritime infrastructure and fostering economic development.

It reflects a 4.78 per cent growth

Agribusiness, Environment, India, Nature, Sustainability

The Woods@Shamshabad in Hyderabad, is the world’s largest Miyawaki forest created in a residential daily living space, is a three-year-old forest.

Uri Rubinstein, MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Corporation, Agriculture Attaché at the Embassy of Israel in India, lauded the Woods-Shamshabad biophilic eco-realty project by Stonecraft Group in Hyderabad.

After touring The Woods@Shamshabad , Uri Rubinstein, said, ” I never witnessed such a project, this is breathtaking, the residents and habitats are lucky to live here, thoroughly a next generation project”. He added, “I am an agriculture person, and these days we are talking a lot about Regenerative Agriculture, this looks similar to regenerative agriculture that improves soil fertility, improves water level and energy management”. He applauded Kirthi for creating a breakthrough forest in the middle of the city.

The Woods@Shamshabad in Hyderabad, is the world’s largest Miyawaki forest created in a residential daily living space, is a three-year-old forest, with fully matured 4,50,000 native self-sustainable Indian trees and over 141 species of migratory and resident birds, the lush green around 60 acres with 110 farm units built to cherish as an heirloom property.

“We are honoured to receive words of appreciation from the Israeli Agricultural Attaché Uri Rubinstein for our project ‘The Woods@Shamshabad’. This acknowledgment, and learnings from his visit reinforces our commitment to sustainable development in eco-realty. We look forward to exploring opportunities for collaboration with MASHAV to further our efforts in ecological restoration and community development through a series of Woods Projects in India.” Kirthi Chilukuri, Founder and CEO of Stonecraft Group said.

MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, promotes sustainable development and social equity worldwide. Through its initiatives, MASHAV empowers communities to create sustainable change and transformation within their societies.

The Israeli embassy in India is participating in the ‘Million Miyawaki’ initiative as part of Earth Day goals, aimed at improving air quality in Indian cities through mass afforestation in tight urban spaces. Amongst the many fields in which Israel and India collaborate, agriculture and climate change have always been at the front and center to demonstrate the Israel Agro technology to benefit the Indian farmers under IIAP.

The Woods@Shamshabad in Hyderabad, is the world’s

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Fertilizers, India

Rallis India’s extensive distribution network and farmer connect initiatives ensure widespread accessibility and adoption of such solutions across Punjab and Haryana.

Rallis India Limited, a Tata enterprise and a leading player in the Indian agri-inputs industry is actively raising awareness about crop care in the early stages of paddy cultivation through its farmers’ campaign, “Dhaan ka Powerplay,” across Haryana and Punjab.

Paddy crops significantly contribute to the farmers’ income in these markets. As an organization committed to providing farmers with advanced Agri solutions and to sensitize them about the importance of paddy crop health and nourishment in its early stage, Rallis India initiated the ‘Dhaan ka Powerplay’ campaign. This campaign facilitates direct farmer engagement through field visits, demos, one-on-one farmer meetings across Punjab and Haryana.

“Rallis India’s comprehensive crop care solutions are designed to support the farmers of Punjab and Haryana in maximizing their paddy yields. Through this campaign, we aim to drive deeper awareness and adoption of our innovative granular products such as Zaafu, Ralligold GR, Zygant, and Nayazinc that deliver tangible benefits in the crucial initial stage of the crop cycle. It has been Rallis India’s constant endeavor to ensure that farmers are well-informed about the benefits of its products which are tailored to address the specific needs of the region’s paddy varieties,” said, S Nagarajan, Chief Operating Officer, Rallis India Limited.

The objective of ‘Dhaan ka Powerplay’ is to educate farmers on the advantages of using Zaafu, Ralligold GR, Zygant, and Nayazinc, together which are highly suitable for application up to 30 days from the time of transplanting. These products play a pivotal role in enhancing soil health and plant vigor during the crucial initial growth phase of paddy cultivation. Rallis India’s extensive distribution network and farmer connect initiatives ensure widespread accessibility and adoption of such solutions across Punjab and Haryana.

Rallis India's extensive distribution network and farmer

Agribusiness, India, Interaction, Seeds, Soil Health

Experts had a high-impact brainstorming session on “Public-Private Partnership in Agriculture: A Way Forward” organised by TAAS In collaboration with ICAR, FSII and NSAI.

Public private partnerships could hold the key to address many pressing challenges of agriculture including diffusion of innovation to farmers, scaling -up research and helping farmers get the right market linkages, experts said at a conference in New Delhi.

The Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), and the National Seed Association of India (NSAI), organised a high-impact brainstorming session at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), Pusa Campus titled “Public-Private Partnership in Agriculture: A Way Forward.”

Currently, India’s agricultural sector employs over 50 per cent of the country’s workforce and contributes about 17 per cent to the nation’s GDP. However, to sustain and boost this contribution, it is essential to adopt new technologies and practices. The private sector has shown tremendous potential in this regard, especially through advancements in biotechnology and improved seed varieties. By 2022, the adoption of genetically modified Bt Cotton had resulted in a 24 per cent increase in yield and a 50 per cent reduction in pesticide use, showcasing the transformative impact of private partnership.

Over 60 key stakeholders, including scientists, researchers, policy makers, and private sector representatives participated. The focus was on developing a clear Road Map to enhance Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the agriculture sector to scale innovations for impact and benefit to farmers.

Dr RS Paroda, Founder Chairman, TAAS and Former Secretary DARE and DG, ICAR emphasized an urgent need for PPP collaboration, stating, “Indian agriculture is at a crossroads. To meet the increasing demand for food and to address the challenges of climate change, we must leverage the strengths of both public and private sectors. Effective PPPs are essential to upscale and outscale innovations for sustainable agriculture.” He further added “The current public agricultural research investment is grossly insufficient, therefore, there is a need to explore the options to enhance agricultural research investment in a partnership mode. We need to accelerate annual growth in agriculture to at least 4 per cent, thus contributing around USD 1 trillion from agriculture to achieve India’s projected USD 5 trillion economy”

The Chief Guest Dr T. Mohapatra, Chairperson, PPV&FRA emphasized that public-private partnerships are effective means to address the existing challenges and unlock new opportunities to enhance agricultural growth and development.

Ajai Rana, Chairman, FSII, highlighted the critical role of seed industry in transforming agriculture. “The private seed sector has already made significant contributions, especially in the area of genetically modified crops like Bt Cotton. However, there is immense potential for further advancements through strategic PPPs. Our goal is to develop and disseminate high-quality seed varieties that can revolutionize Indian agriculture,” he remarked.

Stakeholders were unanimous in realising considerable strength in both public and private research institutions. However, such potential can effectively be tapped through highly focused PPP Projects of national importance. What urgently effective collaboration in research, access and benefit sharing and the enabling policies.

Ram Kaundinya, Advisor, FSII, added, “Market-driven research and the adoption of advanced technologies such as genome editing are crucial. Through strengthened PPPs, we can ensure that innovations in high priority areas are not only developed but reach our farmers soon for enhancing productivity and profitability.”

Experts had a high-impact brainstorming session on

Agrotech, Collaborations, Company News, Digital Technologies, India, Start ups

FPOs can use Ayekrishi for market linkage and to access supplier networks.

Ayekart, a leading agrifood fintech platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Grameen Foundation India. This collaboration aims to extend Ayekart’s Ayekrishi platform (PaaS) along with the market linkage services with embedded finance to Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) connected with Grameen Foundation in India, bolstering financial inclusion and enabling marginalized communities, mainly focusing on women. Ayekart, India’s foremost integrated tech platform in the food and agri value chain, is driving a transformation within the segment by unveiling a range of groundbreaking solutions.

Central to this transformation is Ayekrishi, the FPO management tool that is a beacon of efficiency, simplifying business processes and enhancing operational efficacy. FPOs can use Ayekrishi for market linkage and to access supplier networks. The platform includes planning features to aid FPOs in organizing their operations effectively and provides advisory suggestions to support FPOs in decision-making and strategy development.

The primary purpose of the collaboration between Ayekart and the Grameen Foundation in India is to integrate Ayekrishi for the market linkage activities and FPO management promoted by the Grameen. This collaboration will benefit the FPOs significantly, including access to different marketable commodities and support in the procurement & selling of produce based on demand and supply conditions. Grameen supports these efforts, aligning with its mission of linking farmers/FPOs with remunerative markets, the foundation’s involvement will ensure the FPOs have the necessary support and resources to leverage the Ayekrishi platform effectively.

Debarshi Dutta, Co-Founder & CEO of Ayekart, said: “Ayekart’s journey is rooted in our commitment to fuelling progress in the food and agri value chain. We are thrilled to partner with the Grameen Foundation India to extend our Ayekrishi services. This collaboration is a significant step towards enhancing the financial inclusion of the market reach of FPOs/Farmers. Together, we aim to create sustainable livelihoods and empower FPOs/ farmers and the MSMEs by leveraging digital technology.”

Bharati Joshi, Interim CEO of Grameen, said, “Joining hands with Ayekart allows us to further our mission of eradicating poverty and hunger by enabling the poor, especially women. We recognize the catalytic role of technology in bridging the gap between farmers and entrepreneurs on the one hand and the market (including technical service providers on the other). We are happy to find an institutional partner like Ayekart which is ready to put purpose before profits. We envisage Ayekrishi’s innovative solutions will help us deepen our impact in agriculture and livelihoods, fostering resilience and sustainable growth in the communities we serve.”

FPOs can use Ayekrishi for market linkage