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Agribusiness, Agro Universities, Agrotech

 The project aims to enhance technical skills, strengthen quality control, and improve access to both domestic and international markets, creating lasting economic opportunities for communities across the state.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Telangana, signed a landmark Memorandum of Agreement to establish 2,500 Agro-Processing Enterprises in the state by 2028.This agreement marks the start of a transformative collaboration between ICRISAT and SERP titled, Revitalizing Rural and Urban Livelihoods through Establishment of Inclusive Agro-Processing Business Models and Entrepreneurship Development in Telangana State.

ICRISAT’s Agribusiness Incubation Platform (AIP) will play a pivotal role in this project leveraging its global network and local agribusiness experience with the Government of Telangana. The project will adopt a holistic approach, integrating feasibility analysis, technical support, and capacity building. Plans are also underway to explore convergence with national schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana—National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

Highlighting the project’s vision, Director General of ICRISAT, Dr Himanshu Pathak said, “This project tackles two of the biggest challenges faced by Indian farmers, fair market access and freedom from exploitative middlemen. We cannot afford to fail in this mission, and I am confident ICRISAT, together with SERP, will leverage our collective expertise to make this initiative a success in Telangana, with the potential to be scaled across India.”

The project aims to enhance technical skills, strengthen quality control, and improve access to both domestic and international markets, creating lasting economic opportunities for communities across the state.

Speaking on the necessity of value addition, Divya Devarajan, IAS, CEO, SERP Telangana, said, “Farmers nurture their crops like their own children, yet often they face disrespect and unfair prices when selling to middlemen. Through this partnership with ICRISAT, we will impart the required knowledge about value addition and primary processing to farmers. It is our bold attempt to transform the lives of farmers, especially women farmers, by giving them limitless opportunities, dignity, and choice in marketing their produce.”

 The project aims to enhance technical skills,

Agribusiness, Carbon Farming, North America, Sustainability

Over 1M carbon removals and reductions achieved cumulatively across Indigo’s programs confirming soil as a new asset class.

Indigo announced the issuance of its fourth carbon crop, consisting of over half a million independently verified carbon credits issued through the Climate Action Reserve. With nearly a megaton of carbon removals now stored in U.S. cropland and more than 64 billion gallons of water conserved, Indigo’s carbon program has now seen nearly 1M credits issued over four carbon harvests. This demonstrates an unprecedented impact on American agriculture and the ability to deliver resilient economic benefits at scale.

“Indigo continues to prove that soil carbon is a real, scalable, and direct investment in economic and natural resilience,” said Dean Banks, CEO, Indigo Ag. “It’s bigger than agriculture, the environmental outcomes impact people’s lives, health, and productivity, from small towns to big tech companies. With this issuance, we’ve reached a tipping point in our ability to mitigate business risk and strengthen rural communities. And we’re just getting started”.

Rooted in science, committed to quality

As Indigo continues to set the standard for rigor in nature-based carbon solutions, Indigo’s focus on continuous improvement backed by science has attracted a growing network of credit buyers. More companies are prioritizing high-integrity credits, further expanding Indigo’s market reach through new sales partnerships.

“At Block, we’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint and aligning our operations with meaningful sustainability efforts. Indigo was our first regenerative agriculture partner—an excellent inclusion to our portfolio of high-integrity carbon solutions,” said Neil Jorgensen, Global Head of Stewardship at Block.

Indigo strategically manages carbon credit transactions to maximize grower returns, with 75% of the credit value going directly back to the farmer under its standard program, selling at real market value year-round and ensuring transparency. Indigo’s carbon program growth is evidence of the ongoing interest in adopting regenerative farming practices and the ability to diversify revenue on the farm and monetize carbon as a separate commodity. This growth would not be possible without the new, durable revenue stream provided by carbon finance, allowing farmers the confidence to adopt new management practices in the face of market uncertainties and risks to their farm business.

What’s to come

Indigo closed its latest carbon harvest in April, and is approaching a megaton of credits issued annually, reinforcing its position as the only company repeatedly delivering registry-issued soil carbon credits at this scale. Impacted by an 85% reduction in the administrative burden of farmer data collection, this breakthrough across Indigo’s sustainability programs focuses on the diversity of management, not the count of fields. This lightning-fast data entry experience is a critical development for sustainability programs across the sector.

Looking beyond Carbon, Indigo’s Sustainability Solutions business, including Carbon and Scope 3 programs, has already achieved over a megaton of reductions and removals of CO2e and nearly 100B gallons of water conserved. These results demonstrate the power of soil carbon to deliver real environmental and economic benefits.

Over 1M carbon removals and reductions achieved

Agribusiness, Fruits, Horticulture, India, Supply Chain, Trade, Transportation

14 Tons of Indian pomegranates exported from Ahilyanagar in Maharashtra to New York, USA.

In a historic initiative towards introducing Indian Pomegranates to distant markets, a landmark commercial sea shipment of the prized Indian Bhagwa variety of Pomegranate has successfully arrived in New York, marking a significant milestone for India’s Fresh Fruits exports. With growing international demand for premium quality of Fresh Fruits, the arrival of this shipment heralds the potential of Indian Pomegranates becoming a preferred choice in the competitive U.S. market.

The Pomegranate season, which traditionally saw air freight as the primary mode of transportation, shifted gears in recent weeks to embrace the cost-effective and sustainable sea freight mode.

After India had been granted market access by USA for Pomegranates, during the season in 2023, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO – India) and National Research Centre for Pomegranate, Solapur (NRCP) successfully conducted the trial shipment of Pomegranate to USA by air. 

Owing to the success of the static trial to enhance the shelf life of Pomegranates for up to 60 days by APEDA in collaboration with ICAR-National Research Centre for Pomegranate, India had successfully flagged off its first trial commercial sea shipment of Pomegranates comprising of 4200 boxes i.e. 12.6 tons to the U.S. in collaboration with InI Farms from Irradiation Facility Center (IFC), Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB), Vashi, Navi Mumbai in February, 2024.

APEDA facilitated the USDA pre-clearance program for Pomegranates in December, 2024 which played a pivotal role in easing the logistical and regulatory hurdles for Indian agriculture exporters and enabled them to enter the U.S. market. APEDA’s proactive approach in inviting the USDA inspectors for the pre-clearance process three months in advance ensured the smooth and timely arrival of the shipment.

The inaugural sea shipment of 4,620 boxes of Indian Pomegranates, weighing approximately 14 tons reached the U.S. East Coast in the second week of March, well within five weeks of the point of departure. The shipment was met with exceptional enthusiasm in New York. The arrival quality was reported as “excellent” and customers were captivated by the remarkable visual appeal and the superior eating quality of the Indian Bhagwa variety of Pomegranates.

Chairman, APEDA,  Abhishek Dev remarked, “Government of India has been at the forefront in promoting Indian fresh fruits for the global market. APEDA has been supporting the export of Indian fruits like Mangoes and Pomegranates to USA by funding the pre-clearance program. Indian farmers will achieve better realisation when their fruit gets exported to premium international markets like USA. Indian mangoes have already reached annual exports of around 3500 tons and we hope that Pomegranates will also reach such strong numbers in the years to come”.

This consignment was sent by Kay Bee Exports, a leading exporter of fruits and vegetables from Mumbai and a registered exporter with APEDA. The Pomegranates in this consignment were directly sourced from the farms of Kay Bee Exports, ensuring that the benefits of this export reach Indian farmers at the grassroots level.

“We are thankful to APEDA for facilitating exports of Indian Pomegranates to USA. APEDA’s efforts have ranged from securing market access to setting up export protocols, co-ordinating with multiple stakeholders and organising the pre-clearance program in conjunction with USDA. Kay Bee is specialised in Pomegranates and hope to offer the best fruit that India has to offer. Our customers expect the best fruit quality, and we always strive to do so” said Kaushal Khakhar, CEO, Kay Bee Exports on the successful shipment.

14 Tons of Indian pomegranates exported from

Agribiotechnology, Agro Universities, Agrotech, India

The partnership will focus on biofortification and innovative nano-enabled inputs to benefit farmers with cost-effective, high-yield solutions.

Biofactor, a leading agricultural biotechnology company, has signed an MoU with the School of Engineering Sciences & Technology, University of Hyderabad (UoH), to develop nanotechnology-driven solutions for sustainable farming. The MoU was signed by Dr Devesh Nigam, Registrar of UoH and Dr. Laxmi Narayana Reddy, CEO of Biofactor in the presence of Prof. B J Rao, Vice Chancellor, UoH; Prof. Samrat Sabat, Director, R&D at UoH and faculty members.

This collaboration aims to enhance crop productivity, precision nutrient delivery, and eco-friendly nanopesticides, ensuring better resource efficiency and reduced chemical dependency. The partnership will focus on biofortification and innovative nano-enabled inputs to benefit farmers with cost-effective, high-yield solutions.

The broad areas of collaboration under this MoU are:

a. To conduct comprehensive research on the synthesis of novel nanoparticles with versatile applications across diverse sectors.

b. To collaborate on research focused on toxicity assays of nanoparticles. ensuring safety and environmental compatibility.

c. To provide specialized training for scientists and technical staff in the synthesis, toxicity evaluation, and application of nanotechnology.

d. To undertake academia-industry collaborative research projects, fostering innovation and translational outcomes in nanotechnology.

Other areas of collaboration include:

  • Internship opportunities in M/s Biofactor in projects related to application of nanotechnology in agriculture, poultry, fishery etc.,
  • UoH shall provide exposure/training to scientists and technical staff of Mis Biofactor in various areas of expertise available in nanotechnology.
  • Both the institutions will work together to identify need based; demand driven. sustainable programs to be delivered.

“This partnership bridges cutting-edge material science with real-world agricultural needs”, said Dr. Dibakar Das, UoH while Dr. L.N. Reddy, CEO, Biofactor, added, “Leveraging nanotechnology, we aim to empower farmers and enhance global food security.”

Biofactor has previously collaborated with CIRCOT Mumbai, ANGRAU Guntur, IIAR Bangalore, and IIOR Hyderabad.

The partnership will focus on biofortification and

Agri Genomics, Agribusiness, Company News, Dairy, Finance, India, Investments, Live Stock, R&D

This project integrates advanced breeding technologies (IVF & ET), a feed mill for internal and external consumption, and bio-methanation for CBG production, ensuring a self-sustaining, eco-friendly model.

BL Agro, India’s leading FMCG company, inaugurated BL Kamdhenu Farms, which will comprise state-of-the art Centre of Excellence for Cow Breeding and Dairy Technology, in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The company will initially invest Rs. 1,000 crores in the project and aims to create a circular economy that would benefit the farmers of Uttar Pradesh.

This pioneering initiative, called Satat Kamdhenu, was inaugurated by Chirag Paswan, Minister of Food Processing Industries, Govt of India, will transform the dairy and livestock industry in Uttar Pradesh by leveraging cutting-edge technology and scientific advancements to improve cattle genetics, milk productivity, and overall herd health. Also present at the occasion were  Ghyanshyam Khandelwal, Chairman, BL Agro, Ashish Khandelwal, Managing Director, BL Agro and Navneet Ravikar, CEO, BL Agro and CMD, Leads Connect Services (Agritech Venture by BL Agro Group).

While BL Kamdhenu will focus on cattle breeding, Leads Agri Genetics will work towards plant and animal genetics like preserving and enhance indigenous livestock breeds and heirloom crop varieties, develop breeds and crop varieties that reduce environmental impact, such as lower methane-emitting cattle and resource-efficient crops. It will also follow bioethics and regulatory standards to ensure genomic selection that aligns with sustainability and animal welfare with a focus on training and supporting farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses in leveraging genomic data for better productivity.

Navneet Ravikar, CEO, BL Agro, said, “In the initial stage, BL Kamdhenu will benefit 5000 local farmers in the next 2-3 years and as it scales up its production to full capacity, it would benefit 1-2 lakh farmers in a radius of 20 kilometers around Bareilly.”

BL Agro will sell high milching cows to the local community and provide them with best quality feed and buy back the milk from the farmers. For this purpose, the Centre will also have a field processing unit that would be working with the farming community to source raw material like milk from them. They would also work closely with the farming community to source farm waste for the proposed CBG plant. BL Kamdhenu underscores BL Agro’s commitment to supporting India’s dairy sector and creating a whole ecosystem that aims to commercialize the rural economy.

Commenting on the launch, Ashish Khandelwal, Managing Director, BL Agro said, “We are extremely delighted to share that BL Kamdhenu will serve as the focal point for research, training, and implementation of best practices in cattle breeding and dairy technology. The initial investment in the project is around Rs.1,000 crores and the whole project once it is up to full capacity will cost Rs. 3,000 crores. Our key focus has been to create sustainable and a circular economy that minimizes agri waste and boost the local community. Our state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Cow Breeding and Dairy Technology will not only aim to enhance milk production and improve breed quality but also help farmers in achieving greater economic sustainability.”

The BL Kamdhenu, is a part of expansion plan of BL Agro, to grow from farm foods to sustainable dairy farming. This project integrates advanced breeding technologies (IVF & ET), a feed mill for internal and external consumption, and bio-methanation for CBG production, ensuring a self-sustaining, eco-friendly model. The project will initially house 5000 indigenous cows, focusing on sustainable dairy farming. This number will increase to 10,000 cows as the project goes forward.

The event also saw BL Agro unveiling its new subsidiary Leads Agri Genetics that will work towards enhancing animal genetics, livestock improvement, plant breeding, crop genomics, and work towards sustainable and ethical breeding.

This project integrates advanced breeding technologies (IVF

Agribusiness, Company News, India, Supply Chain, Transportation

Maersk announced that the company sees an investment opportunity pipeline of about USD 5 billion in ports and terminals as well as landside infrastructure development in India.

A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) celebrated the name-giving of its newest dual-fuel methanol container vessel in Mumbai as a part of the vessel’s maiden voyage to India. The vessel, named Albert Maersk, is the eleventh vessel in Maersk’s fleet capable of operating on methanol.

Vincent Clerc, CEO, A.P. Moller – Maersk, hosted the name-giving ceremony, which was attended by the Honourable Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, diplomats, government authorities, customers, partners and Maersk employees.

On this occasion Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said, “It is a privilege for India to host the naming of this advanced dual-fuel vessel, a historic first for a foreign shipping company in our country. With the demand for green vessels rising, India has the potential to become a major producer and supplier of green methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen-based fuels. Maersk’s decision to focus on green fuel production in India is a welcome step that will accelerate our journey towards a sustainable maritime future. This vessel naming is more than just a tradition—it is a symbol of trust, collaboration, and a shared vision for the future. As India moves towards becoming a global maritime powerhouse, we welcome Maersk’s continued partnership in green shipping, green fuel production, and logistics.”

Vincent Clerc,CEO of A.P. Moller – Maersk said that Maersk continues to take firm steps towards decarbonising shipping with the addition of one more dual-fuel vessel to its fleet. India is among the world’s fastest-growing major economies, with a thriving manufacturing sector, a booming e-commerce industry, and expanding exports. Shipping and logistics are high on India’s priorities, and Maersk looks forward to partnering with India on various aspects, such as exploring the potential sourcing of alternative fuels for low-emissions shipping and activities involving ship repairs and shipbuilding in the future that align well with the Indian Government’s ambitions to promote the shipping sector.

Maersk contributes to this growing economy by facilitating the movement of one in every six containers imported or exported from the country and enabling global trade through its integrated logistics solutions. The company’s footprint in India includes two APM Terminals operations in Mumbai and Pipavav that facilitate the import and export of over three million containers every year, 26 warehouses spread across 350,000 sq. m., and a distribution network that reaches more than 80 per cent of India’s pin codes.

On the backdrop of the name-giving ceremony, Maersk announced that the company sees an investment opportunity pipeline of about USD 5 billion in ports and terminals as well as landside infrastructure development in India.

Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals said, “We believe we can play a role in reducing the cost of logistics by ensuring that our customers access all their supply chain needs in one place – from all modes of transportation to port handling to warehousing and distribution. As APM Terminals, we are ready to invest more in developing ports with low emissions and great efficiency that will help businesses grow and connect India with the global markets.”

Maersk announced that the company sees an

Agribusiness, AgroPolicy, India, Interaction, Pulses

AgroSpectrum spoke to Rajavelu N K, CEO, Crop Protection Business, Godrej Agrovet Ltd about how to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ and other issues. Edited excerpts:

The United Nations General Assembly has designated February 10 as World Pulses Day to recognise the importance of pulse crops like chickpeas, dry beans and lentils as a global food. The day is crucial to raising awareness about the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production to enhance food security and nutrition. In 2025, the theme for World Pulses Day is “Pulses: Bringing diversity to agrifood systems” while the slogan is “Love pulses for a healthy diet and planet”. This year’s theme will underscore the vital role of pulses in promoting diversity – both above and below the ground. With low yields, India being the largest producer of pulses imports large quantities of pulses to fulfil its local needs. In this regard, AgroSpectrum spoke to Rajavelu N K, CEO, Crop Protection Business, Godrej Agrovet Ltd about how to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ and other issues. Edited excerpts:

What are the key factors contributing to India’s low pulse yields despite having the largest cultivation area globally?

Despite being the world’s largest producer of pulses with extensive cultivation area, India’s yield per hectare remains significantly lower than global standards. This paradox stems from multiple interconnected challenges in our agricultural ecosystem. Traditional farming practices, predominantly reliant on rainfed agriculture, continue to dominate pulse cultivation, limiting the potential for higher yields. The situation is further complicated by the fact that pulses are typically grown in marginal lands with poor soil fertility and erratic rainfall patterns, making them vulnerable to climate variations.

The slow adoption of high-yielding, drought-resistant varieties, coupled with significant crop losses due to pests like pod borer and diseases such as Fusarium wilt, poses persistent challenges. Limited access to quality inputs, including seeds, fertilisers, and micronutrients, further constrains productivity. Market uncertainties, characterised by price volatility and inadequate Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement mechanisms, often discourage farmers from making necessary investments in better farming practices. Additionally, post-harvest losses due to insufficient storage and processing infrastructure continue to impact the overall productivity of pulse cultivation in India.

How is the private sector contributing to improving pulse yields in India through various initiatives?

As a key player in India’s agricultural sector, we at Godrej Agrovet, along with other private sector companies, have been actively working to transform pulse cultivation through innovative solutions and strategic interventions. In the crop protection segment, which is our core strength, we have made significant strides in developing both bio-based and chemical crop protection solutions specifically tailored for pulse cultivation. These solutions directly address the critical challenges faced by pulse farmers in managing pests and diseases effectively. The sector’s transformation has been multifaceted, with companies like Bayer and Syngenta introducing improved seed varieties that offer enhanced resistance to diseases and pests.

The industry has also embraced precision agriculture techniques, leveraging advanced technologies such as satellite imaging, soil testing, and AI-driven advisory services. These technological interventions have been crucial in optimising input utilisation and improving yield outcomes for farmers. What’s particularly encouraging is how different private sector players are contributing through their unique strengths. For instance, companies like ITC and Tata Agrico have established robust contract farming models and market linkages, ensuring better price realisation for farmers. Additionally, we’re seeing innovative approaches from agritech startups that are revolutionising access to financial services through microfinance, insurance products, and digital advisory services. At Godrej Agrovet, we believe this collaborative ecosystem approach, where each player brings their expertise, is crucial for achieving sustainable improvements in pulse productivity.

How will the Rs 1,000 crore “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses” announced in the 2025-26 Budget impact India’s pulse sector?

The ambitious Rs 1,000 crore mission marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards self-sufficiency in pulse production. This strategic initiative addresses multiple critical aspects of the pulse value chain, with MSP-based procurement mechanisms forming the cornerstone of price stability efforts. The enhanced focus on building robust post-harvest infrastructure, particularly warehousing solutions, is expected to significantly reduce wastage and empower farmers with better market timing options, ultimately leading to improved price realisation.

This comprehensive mission is poised to transform India’s current scenario of importing 2-3 million tonne of pulses annually. By providing secure pricing mechanisms, it creates a conducive environment for farmers to invest in better inputs, irrigation systems, and modern farming technologies. The strengthening of procurement infrastructure under this initiative is expected to streamline logistics and eliminate distress sales, creating a more resilient and self-sufficient pulse production ecosystem.

To read more click on:https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

AgroSpectrum spoke to Rajavelu N K, CEO,

Agribusiness, Company News, India, Interaction, Pulses

Rajavelu N.K, CEO, Crop Protection Business, Godrej Agrovet Ltd shared his views on pulses production in India with AgroSpectrum on the occasion of World Pulses Day celebrated on February 10.

“Achieving sustainable pulse production in India requires a synergistic approach that integrates multiple elements of the agricultural ecosystem” said Rajavelu N.K, CEO, Crop Protection Business, Godrej Agrovet Ltd. Speaking with AgroSpectrum on the occasion of World Pulses Day celebrated on February 10 he said “Our focus on crop protection strategies has demonstrated how effective pest and disease management can immediately boost productivity. We’ve seen firsthand that when farmers have access to the right crop protection solutions, coupled with proper application guidance, the impact on yield is significant and measurable. Innovation plays a crucial role in this transformation.”

He further noted “At Godrej Agrovet, we have partnered with Farmonaut, through which we’ve successfully mapped and monitored over 100,000 acres of farmer fields using advanced satellite technology. This collaboration enables us to provide farmers with real-time data on crop health, soil organic carbon, and weather forecasts, facilitating informed decision-making and optimised resource utilisation. However, the private sector’s efforts need to be complemented by strong government support. Strategic investments in MSP procurement mechanisms, warehousing infrastructure, and modern storage facilities are essential for enhancing market stability. Additionally, policy interventions ensuring price stability, coupled with targeted incentives for pulse cultivation and sustained investments in research and development, are vital for creating a robust pulse production ecosystem.”

Talking about low productivity, he said “The slow adoption of high-yielding, drought-resistant varieties, coupled with significant crop losses due to pests like pod borer and diseases such as Fusarium wilt, poses persistent challenges. Limited access to quality inputs, including seeds, fertilisers, and micronutrients, further constrains productivity.”

It may be noted that the United Nations General Assembly has designated February 10 as World Pulses Day to recognise the importance of pulse crops like chickpeas, dry beans and lentils as a global food. Pulses are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for both food and feed. Beans, chickpeas and peas are the most well-known and commonly consumed types of pulses, but there are several more types of pulses from around the world, all with great benefits for food security, nutrition, health, climate change and biodiversity. The Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production with the aim of enhancing food security and nutrition. In 2025, the theme for World Pulses Day is “Pulses: Bringing diversity to agrifood systems” while the slogan is “Love pulses for a healthy diet and planet”. This year’s theme will underscore the vital role of pulses in promoting diversity – both above and below the ground.

Rajavelu N.K, CEO, Crop Protection Business, Godrej

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

Company records overall robust performance in seeds business, driven by grain sorghum, sunflower and corn.

UPL Ltd. reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2024. Company’s revenue for the third quarter was up by 10 per cent, driven by 9 per cent increase in volumes, 5 per cent increase in price and 4 per cent decline due to Fx, mainly in Brazil.

Financial Performance Update

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Company’s EBITDA was at Rs 2,163 crores in Q3 FY25 compared to Rs 416 crores in Q3FY24 registering the growth of 420 per cent YoY. Company recorded revenue of Rs 10,907 crore in Q3 FY25 Vs Rs 9,887 in Q3FY24 witnessing 10 per cent growth. Contribution margin increase led by product mix, rebate normalisation and COGS improvement. Strong performance with accretive margins in differentiated and sustainable segment. Overall robust performance in seeds business, driven by grain sorghum, sunflower and corn. Net Debt lower by $745M vs. last year; $363M increase in net debt vs. March ’24, significantly lower than $1.7Bn increase over the same period last year.  

Commenting on the Q3FY25 performance, Jai Shroff, Chairman and Group CEO, said “We are seeing strong bounce back versus last year, with normalisation of business, and recovery of volumes and prices. This has helped in regaining our contribution margins back to our previous higher levels. Through strong focus, the team has done a commendable job in bringing down the working capital, resulting in a significant reduction of our net debt versus September, 2024. With this strong performance, we are confident of delivering our EBITDA and free cash flow guidance for the full year.”  

Mike Frank, CEO, UPL Corporation Ltd., said: “The global crop protection market continues to rebound as farmers and dealer buying patterns are now reset. Our volume growth of 14 per cent in this past quarter demonstrates continued strong demand across regions, and our ability to increase market share. Through our focus on customers, driven by investments in marketing excellence, new launches and differentiated solutions, we have improved our margins, as compared to the last few quarters. We expect benefits from this to continue in Q4 as well as in the next financial year”

Company records overall robust performance in seeds

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

Post the acquisition, DeHaat will be serving an overall base of over 12 million farmers across the country, quadrupling the farmer network benchmark it had set for itself by 2024.

 Leading AgTech platform DeHaat, announced the acquisition of Olam Agri owned AgriCentral, one of the largest farm advisory platforms in India through a Business Transfer Agreement (BTA) in an all-cash deal. This strategic acquisition of AgriCentral, a platform with over 10 million smallholder farmers, will enhance DeHaat’s bouquet of digital farmer services, extend its outreach to these farmers, and solidify its position as India’s largest full-stack AgriTech platform.

DeHaat’s acquisition of AgriCentral aligns perfectly with its mission to empower farmers in leveraging technology to enable better decision making across the crop life cycle. The integration will further strengthen DeHaat’s digital capability to offer holistic solutions across crop advisory, input supply, and market linkages. Post the acquisition, DeHaat will be serving an overall base of over 12 million farmers across the country, quadrupling the farmer network benchmark it had set for itself by 2024.

“DeHaat has successfully developed robust supply chain capabilities to offer 360-degree agricultural solutions to Indian farmers across 120,000+ villages through a network of 15,000+ DeHaat Centres. We have also established institutional tie-ups with 1,000+ agribusiness institutions, including agri-input manufacturers, agri-produce buyers, warehouse operators, and financial institutions,” said Shashank Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, DeHaat.

He added, “AgriCentral’s cost-efficient digital capabilities will complement our efforts in reaching millions of underserved farmers with our full stack agri value chain offerings. It will also enable us to introduce multiple value-added services such as precision advisory, mechanization, insurance, and cattle advisory to enhance the livelihoods of our farmers. With this integration, we reinforce our commitment to bringing transparent and direct access to farmers in the USD 500 billion Indian agriculture sector.”

Founded in 2018, AgriCentral is an Olam backed & incubated app-based platform for Indian farmers and has emerged as one of the largest digital advisory platforms with over 10 million users. The platform today serves farmers through features like real-time crop price data, personalized crop planning, crop health diagnostics and community interaction platforms. AgriCentral harnesses state of the art technologies such as global positioning, satellite imagery, big data analytics, machine learning and image analytics to usher farmers into the era of digital farming.

Commenting on the acquisition, Ramanarayanan Mahadevan, CEO, Jiva AG PTE said ‘At AgriCentral, our mission has always been to leverage technology to enhance the lives of Indian farmers, and we take immense pride in having reached over 10 million farmers through our platform. I am confident that DeHaat will further scale the impact, providing farmers on the AgriCentral platform with better access to a comprehensive range of agricultural value chain services. It is incredibly fulfilling to reflect on the role we’ve played in advancing the Indian agri-tech landscape”.

Post the acquisition, DeHaat will be serving

Agribusiness, Drones, India, Interaction

 AgroSpectrum interacted with Chirag Sharma, CEO, Drone Destination to shed more light on the future growth and challenges of agri-drone industry. Edited excerpts:

An urgent need to increase agricultural output and efficiency has sped up the expansion of the agricultural drone market in India. There are about 3,000 drones in operation right now, and by FY25, that number is projected to rise to over 7,000. Frost and Sullivan, an American business consulting firm, predicts that the agri-drone market will reach $121.43 million by 2030, quadruple by 2028, and increase at a CAGR of 38.5 per cent.

This growth would not have been possible without the efforts of the government. To encourage farmers to use drone technology, programmes are offering incentives and financial aid through schemes like the Agricultural Mechanisation Sub-Mission, as well as programmes that promote ‘Kisan Drones’ for crop management. ‘Drone Didi’ is a new programme that will promote sustainable farming practices by providing drone technology to women’s self-help organisations. Owing to all these developments, AgroSpectrum interacted with Chirag Sharma, CEO, Drone Destination to shed more light on the future growth and challenges of this industry. Edited excerpts:

In your opinion, what does the future hold for the agricultural drone market?

Indian agriculture makes a substantial contribution to the nation’s GDP, employment, and food security. Agriculture in India is one of the primary sources of income for many Indians. Almost 70 per cent of India’s people are employed in agriculture. India also has the maximum land dedicated to the production of crops such as wheat, rice, cotton and more.

Drones in agriculture provide increased efficiency by saving time (drones can spray one acre in 5-7 minutes) and increasing the area covered in a day (drones can cover 25 acres per day vs 2-3 acres using conventional labour. Drones also reduce dependency on labour and provide a safe working environment (labourers don’t have to inhale harmful chemicals using traditional spray means). Agri drones also assist in saving water as well as optimising the usage of fertilisers and pesticides by spraying evenly portions over fields using precise mission planning.

The government of India has introduced Kisan Drone initiatives to facilitate ‘Drone Shakti’ through varied applications and Kisan Drones promoted for crop assessment, digitisation of land records, spraying of insecticides, and nutrients for Drone-As-A-Service (DAAS). Under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM), financial assistance ranging from 40 per cent to 100 per cent is provided to farmers, agricultural graduates, Farmer Producer Organisation (FPOs), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs), State Agri Universities and more, for the purchase of Kisan Drones and their associated drone training.

The government has also recently approved the Central Sector Scheme for providing drones to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs 1261 crore. The scheme aims to provide drones to 15,000 selected Women SHGs for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purposes (application of fertilisers and pesticides).

More recently large fertiliser companies such as IFFCO, and Coromandel have started giving orders for drone spray services and over two crore acres of spray orders have already been distributed to the industry. The average price per acre for a drone varies from Rs 400 to 700 depending upon the region and crop.

For the coming year, the size of the agri drone ecosystem, consisting of drone sales, services and training, can be estimated to be between 3000 crore and 4000 crores. The future of the agri drone industry looks extremely promising because drones are becoming easily accessible while also widely applicable in the agricultural sector.

How has the use of drones impacted the face of India’s agricultural industry?

Over the past few years, Indian farming has seen some major changes because of the adoption of new technologies. One of the most exciting advancements is the drone. These flying machines have the potential to completely change how farming works across the country. Drones are not just making things easier for farmers but also helping them make more money and grow more crops.

They can do a lot of different jobs that used to be hard or take a lot of time. For example, drones can spray chemicals on crops, manage irrigation, check on crop health, find pests, and even make sure that all parts of the field get the right amount of fertiliser. 

Drones are a game-changer in Indian farming. Their advanced sensors and cameras equip most unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that allow farmers to observe and manage their crops with precision.

Drones are equipped with advanced sensors, and they can collect high-resolution data on crop health. The accuracy allows the farmers to change their practices. It also helps reduce resource waste and increase yields. They play an important role in monitoring the crop. It helps to capture multispectral and thermal images. This data helps farmers identify different types of crop diseases. It enables targeted interventions, reducing the need for extensive pesticide use.

Besides, drones create accurate and timely maps of farmlands. It aids in crop planning and management. The farmers can analyse maps and improve planting patterns. The drones provide farmers with real-time data. Accurate data enables farmers to make informed decisions. This information empowers farmers to respond quickly to changes in crop conditions and weather conditions as well.

The timely data collected from drones helps farmers. It improves their irrigation practices. While identifying certain areas with moisture deficiencies. The farmers can adjust their irrigation timings. It helps to conserve water and improves the overall efficiency of agricultural practices. Drones provide precision agriculture, which boosts productivity. through improving inputs like pesticides, fertiliser, and water. Farmers can lessen their influence on the environment while increasing harvests.

To read more click on : https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

 AgroSpectrum interacted with Chirag Sharma, CEO, Drone

Agribusiness, Floriculture, India, Opinions

Co-authored by Amit Patjoshi, CEO, Palladium India and Biswajit Behera, Associate Director, Palladium India

India’s export economy has great potential in the floriculture sector, and FPOs are leading the way in harnessing this potential. India’s floriculture FPOs can have a significant impact on increasing exports and empowering smallholder farmers, particularly women in rural areas, by embracing climate-smart practices, improving infrastructure, and strengthening market connections.

Floriculture is a rapidly emerging sector in India, commonly referred to as a “sunrise sector” due to its immense potential for income generation and employment creation, especially for small and marginal farmers, many of whom are women. The Indian floriculture market is projected to reach a volume of approximately $5.9 billion by 2030, growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 7-8 per cent. The sector primarily deals with two types of flowers: cut flowers and loose flowers, with a significant portion of sales occurring through organised retail.

India’s export performance in floriculture has been commendable, though there is still much-untapped potential. In 2023, India exported around 19,600 metric tonnes of floriculture products, worth approximately $86 million. Major export destinations include the United States, UAE, Germany, Canada, Japan, and Malaysia. However, despite the promising figures, the volume of floriculture exports remains modest in comparison to the country’s production capacity.

Geographically, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu lead the country’s floriculture production, accounting for more than 35 per cent of total production. Other key states include Karnataka, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Odisha. These latter states not only produce significant quantities of flowers but also have the potential to serve international markets if supported by improved infrastructure, value chains, and export-oriented business models.

Odisha: Strengthening FPOs Value Chain

Odisha has been an emerging player in India’s floriculture sector, with key districts such as Sambalpur, Rayagada, Ganjam, Puri, Bhadrak, and Angul being major centres for flower cultivation. Farmers in these districts primarily grow marigolds and roses, catering to the local market. However, the state’s floriculture potential extends beyond domestic sales, particularly through the involvement of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

FPOs have become essential in strengthening the floriculture value chain in Odisha. The first floriculture FPO in the state was established in 2021 by Palladium, in collaboration with NABARD. This initiative trained around 650 women farmers in enhanced production techniques, post-harvest practices, and business planning to cater to local market demands. However, to meet export market requirements, significant challenges remain, particularly related to climate variability, market fluctuations, and a lack of infrastructure.

The floriculture value chain in Odisha involves multiple stakeholders, including smallholder farmers, FPOs, research institutions, and government agencies. FPOs play a critical role by aggregating the produce of small and marginal farmers, helping them achieve economies of scale, access to markets, and technical support. By working collectively, farmers under FPOs can reduce production costs, adopt advanced technologies for post-harvest management, processing and value-addition in floriculture value chains and negotiate better prices in both local and international markets. Furthermore, FPOs can facilitate partnerships with research institutes to drive innovation and improve yields, while also ensuring that sustainable practices are adopted to combat climate-related challenges.

Business models through FPOs

The business model for floriculture exports through FPOs hinges on the role of FPOs, which serve as the link between small farmers and the broader market. The aggregation of products through FPOs ensures that smallholder farmers, who individually may lack the resources or scale to export, can still participate in international markets.

The primary steps in the floriculture export business model include:

1. Production: FPOs provide access to high-quality seeds, fertilisers, and technical knowledge to improve yield and ensure the quality of flowers meets export standards.

2. Aggregation and Processing: FPOs collect the flowers from member farmers and handle post-harvest processing such as grading, packaging, and storage. This ensures that the flowers are of a uniform standard, which is critical for export.

3. Logistics: FPOs manage the transportation of flowers to international markets. In the case of cut flowers, this often involves specialised cold storage and transportation to maintain freshness.

4. Marketing and Export: FPOs, in collaboration with export agencies, identify international markets, negotiate prices, and handle the regulatory requirements of different countries.

FPOs also play a crucial role in ensuring that farmers receive fair prices for their produce by eliminating intermediaries and improving their bargaining power. In the case of Odisha, where floriculture is still in its developmental phase, the business model emphasises capacity building, market linkages, and scientific research to enhance production and ensure that smallholder farmers can access international markets.

Recently, Palladium has successfully facilitated an agreement between the Sabuja Sanatanpali Farmer Producer Company Limited and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow. This partnership focuses on promoting scientific research in floriculture, including plant-environment interactions and biotechnological approaches for improving plant quality. Such collaborations are pivotal in helping FPOs adapt to climate challenges and improve production levels, ensuring the competitiveness of Odisha’s floriculture in export markets.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

Co-authored by Amit Patjoshi, CEO, Palladium India

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Company News, World

Offerings built to help growers manage risk as they improve soil health and strengthen their nutrient mix

Sound Agriculture, a leading agriculture company dedicated to advancing plant and soil health, has announced new solutions for the 2025 growing season. Grower incentives for synthetic fertiliser replacement and a new beneficial fungi product that enhances nutrient and water uptake will help growers optimize their nutrients and boost crop yields. Combining these solutions with Sound’s existing cash-back product guarantees and 0 per cent financing options makes for a compelling and no-risk nutrient efficiency package.

Sound Agriculture launches synthetic fertilizer replacement incentive & BLUEPRINT™ to increase nutrient & water uptake. “We are dedicated to discovering new methods to help growers maintain productive agricultural systems in ways that are more profitable and better for the land,” said Adam Litle, CEO, Sound Agriculture. “This includes the launch of a new product, BLUEPRINT, that synergizes perfectly with our flagship product, SOURCE. By pairing these products with financial incentives that reward growers for adopting practices that are better for the planet, growers can save money while eliminating risk.”

Sound Agriculture’s Efficient Acre Solution

The Efficient Acre Solution was developed for growers interested in reducing fertilizer while tapping into new sources of income. By using SOURCE® to replace 25 lbs of nitrogen and/or phosphorus, growers can participate in the Efficient Acre Incentive. This program incentivizes farmers to reduce their reliance on synthetic fertilizers, while helping them manage the associated risks. The program includes:

Financial Incentives: Corn growers can earn up to $10 per acre for replacing synthetic nutrients with SOURCE, available on up to 350,000 acres in 2024-25.

Guaranteed Yield Protection: If yield is not maintained, Sound Agriculture will reimburse growers up to $100 per acre.

Risk-Free Adoption: This program eliminates the financial risk of replacing synthetic fertilizer with SOURCE, encouraging growers to improve soil health and nutrient efficiency.

Growers who are already efficient with fertilizer applications and are looking to maximize their yield potential can tap the Maximum Acre solution. Using SOURCE plus BLUEPRINT™ offers a powerful combination that enhances nutrient and water uptake. Unlike most biologicals, BLUEPRINT provides the highest quality arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), expanding the crop’s reach beyond the roots. When used together, SOURCE leads to more available nutrients while BLUEPRINT acts like a superhighway for nutrients and water to get to the plants.

Enhance Nutrient Access: SOURCE activates more than 200 species of beneficial microbes and fungi that create available nitrogen and phosphorus. BLUEPRINT is activated by SOURCE, enabling crops to access more nitrogen, phosphorus, micronutrients, and water.

Improve Plant Health: Enhanced nutrient access throughout the season ensures plants can survive and thrive in high stress environments.

Release Tied Up Phosphorus: By activating P-solubilizing microbes, SOURCE unlocks the vast reserves of tied-up phosphorus that exist in most soils. BLUEPRINT enhances the reach and delivery of phosphorus back to the crop.

“The 2024 season taught us valuable lessons about managing nutrient efficiency amid extreme weather conditions,” said Paul Beck, CRO, Sound Agriculture. “Our new solutions are designed to help growers achieve better yields while protecting the environment and their bottom line.”

Offerings built to help growers manage risk

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Company News, Finance, India, Seeds

Seeds business faced headwinds on account of weather challenges that impacted production, created inventory shortages and supply constraints, leading to a revenue drop of 7 per cent.

 Agrochemical major, UPL Ltd., reported financial results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2024. Revenue growth for the first quarter was flat at 1 per cent, driven by 16 per cent increase in volumes, 14 per cent decline in price and a negative 1per cent Fx impact.

Seeds business faced headwinds on account of weather challenges that impacted production, created inventory shortages and supply constraints, leading to a revenue drop of 7 per cent and EBITDA drop of 30 per cent YoY.

Net Debt increased by $639 million in Q1FY25 vs year end March 24. The corresponding increase last year was $1,136 million.

Commenting on the Q1FY25 performance, Mike Frank, CEO, UPL Corporation Ltd., said: ″We continue to see strong fundamentals in the global crop protection market, with farmgate demand for our products at or above last year levels in most regions.

Herbicides led the growth in North America, driven by glufosinate and clethodim. Our herbicide performance in Brazil also did well. Fungicides growth was led by higher volumes in Europe and North America.

Revenue growth in our Natural Plant Protection (NPP) business was impressive, up 10 per cent versus last year, driven by a strong performance in Europe, among other regions.

Our contribution margin compressed by 600 bps vs Q1FY24. This was primarily due to price decline, and partially offset with lower cost of goods. Increased freight costs and foreign exchange were also headwinds on margins this quarter.

From an SG&A perspective, we continue to remain disciplined, and the organization is focused on making improvements in the operating model and driving efficiency throughout the enterprise. ″

Commenting on the Q1FY25 performance, Ashish Dobhal, CEO, UPL SAS, said: ″On our India Crop Protection business (UPL SAS), we continued our efforts to restructure the business through strict credit policies and tighter credit terms, which lead to a postponement of sales closer to season, and the consequent impact on Q1FY25 revenues. However, our contribution margins and cash flows have improved and working capital reduced, giving us the confidence that this is the right structural move for us in India”.

Commenting on the Q1FY25 performance, Bhupen Dubey, CEO, Advanta, said: ″On our global seed platform, Advanta, we saw some headwinds in Q1FY25 on account of weather challenges that impacted production, created inventory shortages and supply constraints, leading to the impact on sales and EBITDA margins. ″

Seeds business faced headwinds on account of