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HomePosts Tagged "Agricultural"
Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, India

Rashtriya Kisan Progressive Association took strong exception to certain associations pegging the level of sub-standard and spurious pesticides at just 2 per cent of the overall pesticides market of the country

Rashtriya Kisan Progressive Association (RKPA), a pan-India association that works for the welfare and progress of farmers across the country accused certain associations and vested interests of working against the interest of farmers and condemned it for presenting misleading facts in the public domain.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Binod Anand, National President, of Rashtriya Kisan Progressive Association took strong exception to certain associations pegging the level of sub-standard and spurious pesticides at just 2 per cent of the overall pesticides market of the country.

“India’s agricultural productivity has increased by more than 6 times since 1950, a remarkable achievement indeed. But unfortunately, per acre yield is way below in comparison to many developed and developing nations. Despite having 30 per cent more arable land and 67 per cent more rainfall than China, India’s agriculture GDP is about one-third of China’s. One major contributor to lower yields is the widespread use of low-quality inputs including agrochemicals. Yet, some vested interest dares to put the level of sub-standard products at 2 per cent of the overall Indian market. This is nothing but misleading and cheating of farmers,” said Binod Anand.

“The counterfeit pesticides market is a parallel industry as evident from various FIRs which have been registered against the culprits by reputed companies. It is adversely impacting farmers’ livelihoods, yield, crop quality, income, and the Indian economy on a broader aspect,” Anand added.


Citing the example of the huge damage to 9 lakh acres of chilli crops in South India in 2021, he said, “The damage was mainly due to usage of sub-standard pesticides in the sub-lethal dose. The ultimate sufferers were farmers and consumers. Strict action is a must against such culprits, but unfortunately, vested interests are strengthening such elements by presenting a misleading picture.”

“Few of these so-called Bio-pesticides/ Bio-stimulants were the cocktails of 10-12 chemical pesticides and some of them are not even registered in India which also indicates the possibility of smuggling of such chemicals from foreign countries,” he said.

Rashtriya Kisan Progressive Association took strong exception

Company News, Sustainability, World

KK Strategies revealed its multi-asset strategic approach which includes short, medium and long-term products is aimed at consistently producing monthly income throughout the life of the project

KK Strategies is excited to announce the launch of its new agricultural project based in the province of Phetchaburi in Thailand near Hua Hin. The project comprises a mixture of different products with varying harvest time frames to maximize the project’s yield generation. KK Strategies have kept specific details on the mixture of products confidential but did confirm that durian, pineapples and kynam will be included at varying degrees amongst other products.

KK Strategies revealed its multi-asset strategic approach which includes short, medium and long-term products is aimed at consistently producing monthly income throughout the life of the project, beginning as early as the first 6 months. This is in contrast to traditional agricultural projects which tend to generate no income for the first couple of years and at best only produce income once a year.

Thailand was undoubtedly the most ideal location for our project. It is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of agricultural and forestry products, enjoys advantageous trade agreements and has extremely established processing and distribution networks. Additionally, some of the products within the project portfolio due to Thailand’s specific policies are incapable of being grown profitably elsewhere.

KK Strategies revealed its multi-asset strategic approach

Company News, Sustainability, World

Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) score places UPL as the highest-performing agrochemical company globally and in the top 1 per cent of chemical companies worldwide

UPL Ltd. a global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions has achieved a score of 76 in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) powered by S&P Global Switzerland, outperforming the industry average of 24 and placing the company as the highest-performing agrochemical company globally and in the top 1 per cent of chemical companies worldwide.

This achievement demonstrates UPL’s continued commitment to sustainability and harnessing the decarbonisation potential of the agricultural industry. This year, the UN initiated SBTi and has validated and approved UPL’s Science Based Targets. Over the last 3 years, UPL has reduced its carbon emissions by 21 per cent, its water consumption by 40 per cent, and its waste levels by 57 per cent. UPL has also partnered with renewable energy companies to establish hybrid solar-wind energy power plants and increase its renewable energy usage to 30 per cent.

Jai Shroff, Chairman and Group CEO of UPL Group, said: “As we advance our mission to Reimagining Sustainability for farmers and food systems, we are taking bold steps to reduce our environmental impact, strengthen our social responsibility initiatives, and improve our governance practices – and we are proud that DJSI has recognised this. We remain focused on breaking new ground for our industry and look forward to progressing our sustainability initiatives as we get closer to our 2040 carbon-neutral commitment.”

Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) score places UPL

Agrotech, Sustainability, World

ADB will introduce new technologies and best practices, including advanced big data platforms to optimise agricultural production

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $200 million equivalent loan to spur rural green development in Yichang Municipality, Hubei Province in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

“The Hubei Yichang Rural Green Development Project will modernise Yichang’s agriculture sector in a smart, green, and sustainable manner,” said Alfredo Baño Leal ADB Senior Energy Specialist. “ADB will introduce new technologies and best practices, including advanced big data platforms to optimise agricultural production, as well as research that will help develop more climate-resilient agricultural products.”

Yichang is part of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), one of the three key economic growth engines in the PRC. Inefficient irrigation methods, monoculture crops, and outdated infrastructure have made traditional agriculture severely vulnerable to extreme weather events, including flooding and drought. The municipality has one of the most serious soil erosion problems in the PRC, aggravated by poor land management practices and seasonal high-intensity rainfall.

The project will increase crop productivity in Yichang and optimise the food supply chain through smart green agriculture while building capacity and creating additional skilled jobs. This includes innovative practices such as introducing climate-resilient crop varieties, adopting efficient fertigation systems, reducing food waste, supporting farm-to-market channels on digital platforms, and adding climate adaptation measures to reduce soil erosion and manage floods.

The project will also introduce distributed small-scale renewable energy in many locations to reduce the consumption of grid electricity—which is dominated by coal-fired power generation—and support climate change mitigation efforts. It will install agricultural waste management and water treatment systems and facilities in Yichang. Farmers and workers involved in small-scale agricultural activities will benefit from a cleaner rural environment and improved resilience of rural infrastructures.

ADB will introduce new technologies and best

North America, World

Van Duijn brings more than 30 years of experience in agriculture and international development

The International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) Board of Directors and staff announced the appointment of Henk van Duijn as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Van Duijn will assume his position and new responsibilities on January 1, 2023. IFDC is an independent Washington DC-based non-profit organisation that combines innovative research, market systems development, and strategic partnerships to spread sustainable agricultural solutions for improved soil health, food security, and livelihoods around the world.
Van Duijn brings more than 30 years of experience in agriculture and international development, with a focus on Europe, Africa, and Asia. He has led an impressive portfolio of programs that empower agribusinesses to access and benefit from profitable markets. Prior to his selection as IFDC President and CEO, van Duijn served as Vice President, Corporate Services, and Chief Operations and Finance Officer at IFDC. Before that, he headed the 2SCALE program (2019–2021) and served as CEO of Bopinc (2014–2019). As a diplomat and civil service director in the Netherlands, van Duijn led the design, start up, and implementation of large-scale interdisciplinary programs as well as national and international public-private partnerships in Europe, Africa, and Asia. He holds a master’s degree in Land and Water Management from Wageningen University & Research.
Outgoing IFDC President and CEO Albin Hubscher will retire after four years of deftly leading the organisation to a renewed commitment to soil health. He was instrumental in formulating IFDC’s plan to develop a global innovation centre that will design and scale next-generation soil health and plant nutrition innovations.
Dr Rudy Rabbinge, IFDC Board Chair and Professor Emeritus at Wageningen University & Research, announced van Duijn’s appointment during a staff reception hosted by the IFDC Board on October 26, 2022. Rabbinge encouraged staff to “use this as an opportunity to maintain our organisation’s momentum.” Upon accepting the appointment, van Duijn told IFDC leadership and staff, “IFDC is well-positioned to lead global innovations in soil health and food security. Now, it is time for us to move confidently in the direction set for us. I am honoured and privileged to walk with you all.”

Van Duijn brings more than 30 years