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The centre will provide world-class skill development, followed by on-job training opportunities for rural youth and women.

VEDIC-Mahindra Skill Development Centre was inaugurated today at the Ordnance Factory in Ambajhari, in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways. Established as a collaborative effort between VDIA (Vidharbha Defence Industries Association), Yantra India Ltd., and Mahindra Tractors, the centre will address the challenges faced by rural youth and promoting skill development in the Vidharbha region.

The event also witnessed the presence of Dinesh Rai, Founder Chairman, Alliance of Indian MSMEs (AIM) & Former Secretary, MSME, GOI, Gurudutt Ray, officiating Chairman & Managing Director, Yantra India Ltd., Mr. Nachiket Kodkani, Sr. VP – Mfg., CME, SCPC & Quality, Mahindra Tractors, Kapil Chandrayan, Consultant NSDC, Vipin Itankar, IAS, District Collector Nagpur and Mr. Dilip V. Gondnale, Chairman, VEDIC (Vidharbha Engineering Design & Innovation Centre) along with other dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Vikram Wagh, Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Tractors said, “At Mahindra, we believe that by providing world-class skill development, we can create numerous opportunities for rural youth and women, enabling them to build successful careers and address the challenges of rural India, while contributing to the nation’s growth. The inauguration of the Skill Development Centre, ‘VEDIC-Mahindra SDC’ in Nagpur, is a testament to that objective and a major milestone in Mahindra Tractors’ continued thrust toward transforming lives and strengthening communities.”

As Mahindra Tractors celebrates 60 years of leadership in the domestic market and a milestone of 40 lakh tractors sold, the establishment of this centre underscores the company’s commitment to rural prosperity across the country through youth empowerment. This initiative aligns with Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on skill development as a national priority to leverage India’s unique demographic dividend.

Through VEDIC-Mahindra SDC, Mahindra Tractors will bring unmatched industry expertise in tractor and farm machinery, together with a commitment to excellence in skill development. The centre is particularly focused on skilling rural youth from the Vidarbha region, paving the way for multiple potential career opportunities across the ecosystem, including sales and service roles at dealership locations and assembly roles at manufacturing plants.

Mahindra Tractors has curated a unique curriculum covering skill development across tractor service, sales, and assembly, delivered by the best trainers in this field. Students will also have access to the most modern technical equipment and hands-on experience in various aspects of tractor-related skills.

The centre will provide world-class skill development,

 In Karnataka, the top Kharif onion producing State, sowing is completed in 30 per cent of its targeted area of 1.50 lakh hectare, and sowing is making good progress in other major producing States.

Good and timely monsoon rains this year has provided big boost for kharif crops, including onion and other horticultural crop like tomato and potato. As per the assessment of Ministry of Agriculture with the State Governments, the area targeted for kharif sowing of major vegetables namely, onion, tomato and potato have seen significant increase over last year.

The availability of onion in domestic market is comfortable notwithstanding marginally lower production of onion in rabi-2024 season as compared to the production last year. Onion crop is harvested in three seasons: rabi in March-May; kharif in September-November and late kharif in January-February. In terms of production, rabi crop accounted for roughly 70% of the total production while kharif and late kharif together constitute 30%. Kharif onion plays important role in maintaining price stability during the lean months of between rabi and peak kharif arrivals.

The target area under Kharif onion this year is 3.61 lakh hectare which is 27 per cent higher than last year. In Karnataka, the top Kharif onion producing State, sowing is completed in 30 per cent of its targeted area of 1.50 lakh hectare, and sowing is making good progress in other major producing States.

The onion currently available in the market is rabi-2024 crop, harvested during March-May 2024. The estimated rabi-2024 production of 191 lakh tonnes is sufficient to meet the domestic consumption of about 17 lakh tonnes per month and continued restraint on export within 1 lakh tonnes per month. Further, dry weather condition prevailing during and after rabi harvest this year is observed to have helped in lowering storage loss of onion. Onion prices are stabilising as the quantity of rabi onion released in the market by farmers is increasing with higher mandi prices and onset of monsoon rains which increases the chances storage loss due to high atmospheric moisture.

Though potato is essentially a Rabi crop, some quantities of Kharif potatoes are produced in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Kharif potato harvest during September to November augments the availability in the market. The area under Kharif potato this year is targeted to increase by 12% over last year. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have covered almost the entire targeted sowing area while sowing in Karnataka and other States are in good progress. As per DAFW data, 273.2 lakh tonnes of Rabi potato had been stored in cold storage this year which is sufficient to meet the consumption demand. The prices of potato regulate the rate at which it’s released from the cold storages during the storage period from March to December.

As per Ministry of Agriculture’s assessment with State Government, the targeted kharif tomato area this year is 2.72 lakh hectare as against 2.67 lakh hectare sown last year. Crop conditions are reported to be good in major producing areas of Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh and Kolar in Karnataka. In Kolar, picking of tomatoes have started and will hit the market in within few days from now. As per feedback from District Horticultural officials in Chittoor and Kolar, tomato crop this year is substantially better than last year. Kharif tomato areas are set to increase substantially over last year in major producing States of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

 In Karnataka, the top Kharif onion producing

The MoU was inked to evaluate the utility of Loopworm’s products in shrimp and Asian seabass.

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai signed a MoU with the team of M/s. Loopworm, an insect biosciences and bio manufacturing startup firm based in Bangalore to evaluate the utility of insect-based protein and oil in aqua feeds.

Loopworm is India’s largest insect-based protein and fat producer with a processing capability of 6,000 MT insects annually. Protein and fat are the costliest nutrients in the aqua feed. With the rapid expansion of aquaculture, there is a growing demand for high-quality protein and oil in the aqua feed. Finding nutritionally appropriate and sustainable alternatives to fishmeal and fish oil is an applied research area that added many options to the aqua feed ingredient basket. Recently, insects have received significant attention as a new ingredient for aqua feed since they show many advantages such as low environmental impact, the ability to grow on by-products with better feed conversion efficiency, and a low risk of transmitting zoonotic infections.

The MoU was inked to evaluate the utility of Loopworm’s products in shrimp and Asian seabass. Ankit Alok Bagaria, Co-founder and CEO of Loopworm, emphasised plans for cost-effective production and scaling up the insect protein and oil. The event was organized by the Institute Technology Management Unit, ICAR-CIBA, and SIC, ITMU.

The MoU was inked to evaluate the

 Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority handled 567,392 TEUs in June 2024, an increase of 19 per cent year-on-year.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) handled 1,688,145 TEUs from April 2024 to June 2024 compared to 1,526,284 TEUs in the same period last year, an increase of 10.60 percent. JNPA handled 567,392 TEUs in June 2024, an increase of 19 percent year-on-year. There is also a remarkable increase in the rakes share. In June 2024, containers handled through rakes were 86,333 TEUs, an increase of 17 per cent compared to 73,707 TEUs in June 2023, mentioned an official release.

 “We are delighted to share that JNPA has continued its growth trajectory with significant increase in handling TEUs. This quarterly performance is a testament to JNPA’s efforts to reduce logistics costs and time by providing efficiency in EXIM and ease of doing business. I must say that this quarter has been very fruitful for JN Port as we also received the cabinet’s approval for the mega port project of Vadhvan, which is going to be a game changer for the Indian Maritime sector”, Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman, JNPA said in the statement.

“This project is a catalyst for strengthening economies of scale and transcending the conventional way of port operations in India. We also completed our 35 years of establishment and have been thriving ever since.” The port will comprise nine container terminals, each 1,000 metres long, four multipurpose berths, including the coastal berth, four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, and a Coast Guard berth. The project involves the reclamation of 1,448 hectares of area in the sea and the construction of 10.14 km of offshore breakwater and container/cargo storage areas. The project will create a cumulative capacity of 298 million tonnes per annum, including around 23.2 million TEUs of container handling capacity.

 Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority handled 567,392 TEUs

Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay provides growers from multiple cropping systems with varying levels of expertise with a powerful diagnostic tool.

 Agdia, Inc., a leading provider of plant diagnostic products and services, announced the introduction of an assay for detection of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus on their popular AmplifyRP® XRT platform. Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) is a Polerovirus of emerging importance to cucurbit growers worldwide. This virus was initially characterized in France in 1992 and has since spread to regions of cucurbit production around the world, resulting in yield reductions of up to 50% during severe outbreaks. Surveys indicate that CABYV is one of the most widespread viruses infecting cucumbers throughout European greenhouses and has seemingly been present in Asia and the Mediterranean basin for several decades. Limited, yet concerning outbreaks of CABYV have occurred in Africa, South America and the U.S. High disease incidence, wide host range, virulence and vector ubiquity have combined to make CABYV a significant concern for global cucurbit production.

In addition to most cultivated species of cucurbits, CABYV is known to infect beet, chickpea, faba bean, lettuce, passionfruit and tomato. Moreover, several weedy species in Amaranthaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Lamiaceae and Malvaceae function as virus reservoirs in the absence of cultivated hosts.

Successful management of CABYV in fields and greenhouses is complex, utilising multiple strategies, including exclusion of virus sources and vectors, vector management and disruption of vector activities. Genetic resistance has been identified in cucurbit spp.; however, the resistance genes in crops other than melon have not been characterized and are not commercially available.

Accurate and timely diagnosis of plants infected with viruses is paramount to successful management throughout the growing season, including the establishment and transplanting phases. And Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay for detection of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus provides growers from multiple cropping systems with varying levels of expertise with a powerful diagnostic tool. AmplifyRP® XRT technology promotes the rapid amplification and detection of nucleic acid targets, DNA or RNA, while maintaining a single operating temperature of 42oC. The AmplifyRP® XRT products achieve target sensitivity and specificity comparable to qPCR while having clear advantages over the lab-based technology. AmplifyRP® XRT products do not require a nucleic acid purification step, as crude sample extracts are prepared using a simple extraction buffer and tested directly. When paired with Agdia’s AmpliFire® isothermal fluorometer, the XRT system is a rapid, user-friendly tool that can be implemented in the field or the lab by personnel with limited experience in molecular diagnostics.

Agdia states their new assay for CABYV will detect several known isolates from around the world. Moreover, the assay was validated against a comprehensive panel of potential cross reactors, including viruses known to infect cucurbits and cause similar symptomology. The only cross reactor identified was Melon aphid-borne yellows virus. This product was developed to be used with leaf, petiole and stem tissue. The introduction of Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay expands their catalog to 28 products on this platform.

Agdia’s new AmplifyRP® XRT assay provides growers

The company sold 14,062 tractors in the domestic market in June’24 which translates to sales growth of 16.6 per cent.

Sonalika Tractors, leading tractor export brand announced that the company has achieved a new historic milestone in Q1 FY ’25. The business achieved its best-ever Q1 total sales of 41,465 tractors, the highest-ever overall market share of 14.4 per cent (estimated) as well as recorded 2X growth over industry performance. The company sold 14,062 tractors in the domestic market in June’24 which translates to sales growth of 16.6 per cent and a market share gain of 1.4 percentile points, which is highest among all tractor brands.

Commenting on the brand’s record performance, Raman Mittal, Joint Managing Director, International Tractors Limited, said, “We are elated to achieve our best ever Q1 performance in FY ’25 with the highest ever overall sales of 41,465 tractors and highest ever Q1 overall market share of 14.4 per cent (est.) as well as recorded 2X growth over industry performance. This is powered by a staggering June ’24 domestic market performance of 14,062 tractor sales, marking a record sales growth of 16.6 per cent and market share gain of 1.4% percentile points, both being the highest among all the tractor brands.”

Mittal also added that early arrival of the monsoon in India has brought in positive sentiments in the Indian agri sector as Kharif acreage has picked up by over 30 per cent in FY’25. La Nina conditions are likely to pick up pace in the second half of the monsoons and should cover up the on-going deficiency in the monsoon precipitation. Our teams collaborate effectively to brainstorm, design and develop new farm-tech machinery that makes farming more sustainable and are more than keen to play a leading role in the overall progress of our farmers.

The company sold 14,062 tractors in the

The MoU was signed to inventories, characterise, and map the land, soil & water resources through detailed land resource inventory for watersheds in Jharkhand.

ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Jharkhand State Watershed Mission, Govt. of Jharkhand for the project Land Resource Inventory of Three Selected Watersheds, Jharkhand (under PMKSY 2.0), for Land Use Planning using Geospatial Techniques.

The MoU was signed to inventories, characterise, and map the land, soil & water resources through detailed land resource inventory for three selected watersheds in Ranchi, Khunti, and Deoghar districts in Jharkhand.  The project, supported by the Jharkhand State Watershed Mission, aims to provide detailed information and maps on land, soil, and water in selected watersheds. The LRI-based land evaluation and site-specific land management strategies will aid planners and stakeholders in developing suitable land use models for future sustainability and ecosystem profitability.

Awadh Narayan Prasad, Joint Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Dr Lakhan Lal Mahato, State GIS Expert, JSWM, N. K. Mishra, State Technical Expert, JSWM, Govt of Jharkhand, and other Officials from the Rural Development department of were present during the programme.

The MoU was signed to inventories, characterise,

Manufactured at TAFE’s Alwar plant, these engines will serve domestic and Asia-Pacific markets.

TAFE Motors and Tractors Ltd which is a subsidiary of TAFE Ltd has formed a joint venture with DEUTZ AG to manufacture DEUTZ engines in India. TAFE Motors will manufacture from 30,000 to 30000 DEUTZ engines per year, in the power range of 50-100hp to complement and expand its current lineup of engines. The deal also marks the German company’s expansion into the Indian market, mentioned in the statement.

TAFE Motors will produce engines to suit newer applications in the Indian market as well as for Deutz’s requirements. The engines will be produced in TAFE Motors’ manufacturing facility at Alwar, Rajasthan in India. The Alwar unit currently manufactures diesel engines and gensets in the 5 to 125 kVA range, which are marketed as Eicher Engines (up to 45 kVA) and TMTL Engines (62.5 kVA & above). Deutz will use the Indian manufacturing base to promote the remaining engines in neighbouring markets (Asia Pacific region in particular), benefitting from cost advantages in production and logistics.

“This strategic cooperation between TAFE Motors and Deutz will be mutually beneficial, as it will offer access to shared resources and technologies to produce engines that complement TAFE Motors’ and the Group’s existing range to meet the demand for both domestic and international markets,” said Sandeep Sinha, CEO of TAFE Motors.

DEUTZ would like to utilise TAFE Motors’ manufacturing capacity for the domestic as well as international markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to DEUTZ CEO Sebastian C Schulte, such a partnership is crucial for the company’s development since it opens new geography, allows for lower costs and minimises dependence on sensitive supply chains.

Manufactured at TAFE’s Alwar plant, these engines

Life cycle analysis by precision irrigation pioneer proves the environmental benefit of methods for potato growing in the face of climate change with over 50 per cent reduction GWP.

Israel based Netafim, an Orbia business and a global leader in precision agriculture solutions, announced today the findings of a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) that demonstrates the significant environmental benefits of using drip irrigation for potato cultivation, particularly in reducing Global Warming Potential (GWP) and water consumption. Adopted by the IPCC for assessing the science of climate change, GWP is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific time period, relative to carbon dioxide.

Demand for potato products is at an all-time high while growers are increasingly motivated to improve water efficiency and reduce the environmental cost of production.  The LCA study focused on the environmental impacts of drip versus rain gun irrigation systems for both fresh and processed potatoes. 

Conducted in partnership with Potato Solutions and Drip UK, the trial took place in Norfolk, East Anglia, from March to October 2022. The key findings below underscore the efficiency and sustainability of drip irrigation over irrigation by rain gun for potato production. 

Potatoes grown with drip irrigation exhibit a 54% reduction in GWP for fresh potatoes to those irrigated with rain guns.

Drip irrigation for processing potatoes requires 40% less water per ton of potato than rain gun systems, highlighting the technology’s ability to conserve one of our most precious resources.

“In the fight against climate change, drip irrigation technology emerges as a powerful ally, paving the way for a more sustainable agricultural landscape.” Said Max Moldavsky, Director of Innovation and Climate Solutions at Orbia Netafim. He added, “Amidst mounting environmental pressures, farmers and companies are confronted with urgent calls to mitigate their impact, sustainable growing is not just a choice but a necessity to meet these demands and safeguard our planet’s future.”

Tim Kitson, of Potato Solutions, highlighted the adaptability and efficiency of drip irrigation, especially in regions facing water scarcity, “Even under ever-changing conditions and the looming threat of water scarcity, drip irrigation has shown remarkable reliability and resilience, ensuring water preservation and effective energy management.”

This study not only reaffirms Orbia Netafim’s commitment to sustainable agriculture but also highlights the importance of innovative irrigation solutions in addressing global challenges such as climate change and water scarcity. By leveraging precision irrigation technologies, Orbia Netafim continues to drive forward its mission of growing more with less, benefiting farmers, the environment, and communities worldwide.

Life cycle analysis by precision irrigation pioneer

Certified companies are consistently adhering to the stringent criteria set forth by BRCGS, covering aspects such as food safety management, site standards, product control, process control, and personnel hygiene.

 Saudi Arabia based Tanmiah Food Company, one of the leading Saudi-made halal Food brands in the region, announces its achievement of the highest AA+ BRCGS International Certification in its Poultry Facility. This certification sets Tanmiah apart as a distinguished food provider in the industry, reflecting its unwavering commitment to food safety and the highest quality standards.

The BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety is recognized worldwide as the benchmark for best practices in the food industry. Headquartered in London, BRCGS team ensures supplier compliance while securing the ability to guarantee the safety and quality of food products. Tanmiah has become the first Fresh Chicken producer in Saudi Arabia to attain a BRCGS AA+ rating in an unannounced audit and evaluation, solidifying its position as one of the leaders in the industry. Achieving an AA+ rating is a testament to the rigorous and consistent adherence to these standards by Tanmiah.

“We are incredibly proud to have achieved the highest BRCGS AA+ International Certification in the protein industry in Saudi Arabia. This accomplishment underscores our dedication to food safety, while aligning with global standards in our continuous pursuit of excellence. Tanmiah extends its gratitude to its dedicated team, whose hard work and commitment to quality have been integral to achieving this milestone. The company also thanks its customers and partners for their continued trust and support.” said Zulfiqar Hamadani, Group CEO of Tanmiah Food company.

The unannounced audit programme is designed to assess a facility’s day-to-day operational standards and practices. This rigorous process ensures that certified companies are consistently adhering to the stringent criteria set forth by BRCGS, covering aspects such as food safety management, site standards, product control, process control, and personnel hygiene.

Marcos Delorenzo, CEO of ADC, Tanmiah Poultry’s Division, commented, “We achieved this level of rating due to our commitment to the highest food safety procedures. In our work, we are striving to go over and beyond in being the best at what we do. The AA+ rating from BRCGS is not just a badge of honour for us; it allows us to go to our customers and give them the confidence to consume the best product in market and is a clear signal to our customers and partners that Tanmiah is committed to delivering products of the utmost quality and safety.”

“With a rich history spanning 60 years, Tanmiah has been at the forefront of the food production industry in Saudi Arabia. The company is renowned for its diverse range of halal protein products, dedication to sustainability, commitment to excellence through its state-of-the-art facilities & stringent quality control measures. To be the first one in Saudi Arabia to reach this achievement of highest BRCGS AA+ rating reinforces our complete commitment to food quality in the kingdom in total alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.”, commented Ahmed Osilan, Executive Board Member & Managing Director of Tanmiah Food Company.

Certified companies are consistently adhering to the

Spanning 60 years, Mahindra has broadened its tractor offerings to encompass a diverse range of more than 390 tractor models.

Celebrating 60- years of the Mahindra Tractor and the sale of 40 lakh tractor units since 1963, Mahindra Tractors – India’s number one tractor brand and part of the Farm Equipment Sector at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) today unveiled ‘Desh ka Tractor: Mitti se Juda, Junoon se Saja’, a unique initiative in honour of the Indian farming community.

A tribute to the hardworking farming community in India, Mahindra Tractors showcased a life-sized tractor-themed sculpture that embodies the spirit of toughness of the farming community, inspired by the design of Mahindra’s renowned ‘Yuvo Tech Plus’ tractor. Innovative and imaginative, the sculpture reflects the diversity of Indian farming and crafted with blends of varied soils collected from over 4000 farms across the country, showcasing the strong bond that exists between Mahindra and Indian farmers.

The essence of ‘Mitti se Juda Junoon se Saja’, embodies Mahindra Tractors spirit to create farming solutions that are connected to the land, with the practicality to work across all kinds of terrain efficiently and effectively. It symbolizes our ‘junoon’ (obsession) to transform farming and enrich lives across India and the world – over the last 60 years and beyond.

The sculpture was unveiled today, in the presence of Vikram Wagh, CEO, Farm Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. at a function held at the company’s Nagpur manufacturing facility.

 Wagh explained the essence of the initiative, saying, “As we celebrate this milestone of serving 40 lakh customers over 60 years, we wish to acknowledge the farmers’ trust that has enabled us to achieve this feat. It has inspired us to create ‘Desh ka tractor’, showcasing the strong bond between Mahindra Tractors and the hardworking, relentless, and courageous Indian farmer. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all who helped us reach this milestone.”

Spanning 60 years, Mahindra has broadened its tractor offerings to encompass a diverse range of more than 390 tractor models. During this period, Mahindra Tractors has also established a robust network of over 1200 dealer partners across India, with a customer first orientation that has enabled the brand to provide unparalleled levels of sales, service and spares support to an expanding base of 40 lakh Mahindra Tractors customers.

Spanning 60 years, Mahindra has broadened its

PeaMAX addresses these challenges head-on. Through targeted gene editing, BetterSeeds has optimised PeaMAX for mechanised.

BetterSeeds announced that PeaMAX, the company’s innovative gene-edited cowpea, has been granted approval for commercialisation in the United States by the USDA. This marks a historic moment, as PeaMAX is not only a game-changer for American agriculture but also the world’s first-ever gene-edited cowpea.

Cowpea, a high-protein legume lauded for its drought and heat tolerance, has traditionally faced limitations for large-scale production. Its long growing season and unsuitability for mechanized harvesting have hindered its widespread adoption. PeaMAX addresses these challenges head-on. Through targeted gene editing, BetterSeeds has optimised PeaMAX for mechanised harvesting using existing soybean growing machinery. Additionally, the improved variety boasts a shortened growing season, making it ideal for summer cultivation by soybean growers in the USA, Brazil, and Argentina.

This USDA approval marks a significant milestone for PeaMAX and paves the way for its introduction to the American market. BetterSeeds believes PeaMAX represents the next generation of cowpea, empowering soybean growers with a high-profit legume option for seasons where traditional soybean cultivation faces challenges due to climate change.

Key benefits of PeaMAX:

Suitable for mechanized harvesting: Integrates seamlessly with existing soybean harvesting equipment.

Shorter growing season: Ideal for summer planting in key soybean growing regions.

High protein content: Provides a valuable source of plant-based protein.

Drought and heat tolerant: Thrives in challenging climates.

BetterSeeds is confident that PeaMAX will empower farmers and revolutionize cowpea production. The company looks forward to bringing this innovative new option to soybean growers across the USA.

PeaMAX addresses these challenges head-on. Through targeted

Farmers of 800 villages are being given a subsidy of 25 per cent on the price (MRP) of Nano Urea Plus, Nano DAP and Sagarika by IFFCO

To promote the use of nano fertilizers, the Nano Fertilizer Usage Promotion Mahaabhiyan has been launched by IFFCO on 1st July 2024. Under this, 200 model nano village clusters have been selected by IFFCO. Through this, farmers of 800 villages are being given a subsidy of 25 per cent on the price (MRP) of Nano Urea Plus, Nano DAP and Sagarika by IFFCO so that farmers can use nano fertilizers more and more in their fields. Along with this, IFFCO will give a grant of Rs 100 per acre to the drone entrepreneur so that farmers can get the facility of spraying at low rates. Farmers will be made aware of the increase in the quality and production of the crop in these model nano villages.

Prime Minister has also launched 100 days action plan to increase the use of nano fertilizers in agriculture, under which 1270 demonstrations of Nano DAP (liquid) will be conducted in 413 districts and 200 trials of Nano Urea Plus (liquid) in 100 districts. In these trials, the help of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, State Agricultural University and other research institutions will be taken and monitored by the Government of India.

Nano fertilizers will be made available by IFFCO to the cooperative society and other sales outlets.  Farmers will be told about the benefits of nano fertilizers. IFFCO is providing 2500 agricultural drones for farmers for spraying nano fertilizers, for which 300 ‘Namo Drone Didi’ and drone entrepreneurs have been prepared. Apart from this, other types of sprayers have also been made available through which farmers will be able to easily spray nano fertilizers in their fields. Contracts have been made with 15 institutions to spray 245 lakh acres of area by drones which will spray in the fields of farmers. An incentive of Rs 100 per acre will also be provided on each spray.

From August 2021 to June 26, 2024, a total of 7.55 crore Nano Urea and 0.69 crore Nano DAP bottles produced by IFFCO have been used by farmers. In order to provide maximum benefit to the farmers, IFFCO has set a target of producing 4 crore Nano Urea Plus and 2 crore Nano DAP bottles in the year 2024-25. In this sequence, from April 2024, IFFCO has made available Nano Urea Plus (liquid) 20% w/v N of high concentration to the farmers, which will help in increasing quality crop productivity and environmental protection.

Under this campaign, IFFCO has also planned publicity, field testing, training of secretaries of cooperative societies etc. in all the districts of the country. The Ministry of Fertilizers will also collaborate to implement this scheme so that the use of nano fertilizers in place of chemical fertilizers in the fields can be encouraged. Under this mega campaign, it has been planned to provide 6 crore bottles of nano fertilizers which will be distributed through 36000 member cooperative societies of IFFCO and other cooperative societies.

Farmers of 800 villages are being given

This new feature will allow buyers to inspect and purchase essential agro-commodities instantly, thus reducing the delivery time from days to minutes.

TradeBridge, India’s leading B2B agri-tech marketplace, was launched in 2020 to improve and digitise trade. TradeBridge has chosen to merge its existing technology expertise with increasing accessibility to upgrade the agro-commodity market by announcing its latest innovation, “TB’s AgroMobile: Dark Store on Wheels” India’s first movable dark store. This new feature will allow buyers to inspect and purchase essential agro-commodities instantly, thus reducing the delivery time from days to minutes.

In phase 1, TB’s AgroMobile will be available in Mumbai. They will gradually increase their presence to five more cities across Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities by the end of 2024. This movable dark store will also allow purchasers to place orders online at any given time to align their delivery as per their convenience. Through this, TradeBridge intends to targer and uplift the 1.3 crore kirana stores all over India.

Sameer Bhanushali, Co-founder of TradeBridge, says, “Since our inception in 2020, TradeBridge has been dedicated to revolutionising the agri-commodity trade landscape in India. We recognise the need for a seamless, transparent, and equitable system. This new feature reflects our commitment to the growth of the ecosystem through businesses and farmers. It is also a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire TradeBridge team, and I am proud of the success our team has achieved so far. Our ambition is to become an agri-unicorn, and we believe this innovative platform is a major step towards achieving that goal.”

TB’s AgroMobile feature provides farmers with another opportunity to bypass traditional market limitations. The model will decrease 4–5 layers of middlemen, allowing products to be more affordable for buyers while offering farmers a better selling price.

Bilal Khimji, Co-founder of TradeBridge, expresses his enthusiasm for the new launch, “TB’s AgroMobile: Dark Store on Wheels is a feature that simplifies the purchasing process and accelerates turnaround time while ensuring quality isn’t compromised. It also ensures that small and medium-sized business owners manage their working capital more efficiently. We are attempting to enter micromarkets in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities with this model. When combined, these micromarkets have a sizable purchase gap that needs to be filled. Based on customer preferences, we intend to extend our reach to multiple densely populated pockets across the country, starting with Mumbai. We want to create increasing opportunities for the entire agro-ecosystem in the coming years.”

The concept of TB’s AgroMobile will not only decrease turn-around time but will also allow buyers to shorten their inventory cycles. This, in turn, has a bundle of opportunities and benefits for purchasers to explore.

This new feature will allow buyers to