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HomePosts Tagged "Chairman" (Page 2)
Agrotech, Foodgrains, India, Interaction, Seeds, Sustainability

Experts opined at a conference “DSR for Sustainable & Profitable Rice Production” organised by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) in New Delhi.

 Direct-seeded rice (DSR) has the potential to bring a reduction in water consumption, cut methane emissions, minimize soil erosion, reduce manual labour, and provide better crop residue management in rice cultivation in India. DSR is a result-oriented and successful method for sustainable rice cultivation in India. The success of DSR lies with the farmers’ confidence. Farmers need confidence that they will get better yield, their plants will establish well, and effectively manage weeds, pests and diseases, experts opined at a conference “DSR for Sustainable & Profitable Rice Production” organised by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) at The Park Hotel, New Delhi today.

Rice is India’s leading foodgrain crop and is a staple food for the 1.4 billion population of the country. Grown in a variety of agro-climatic zones, according to industry estimates, rice is responsible for 50 per cent of crop-related methane emissions and approximately 40 percent of water consumption in agriculture, leading to depleting groundwater levels, soil degradation due to water runoff, and intensive manual labour in traditional and transplanted rice cultivation.

To successfully drive this transition from transplanted puddled rice to DSR with minimum fear and risk, allowing farmers to experience first-hand convenience and an equivalent or higher return on investment would require the agri input industry to closely work with the Central and state governments, plant breeders, farm machinery industry and farmers.

Speaking on the research and development in the field of DSR techniques, Dr AK Singh, Director, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), said, “Ongoing research and development efforts in the field of agriculture aim to improve DSR techniques, develop new varieties, and address any challenges associated with its adoption, ensuring continuous improvement and sustainability. In essence, Direct Seeded Rice in India represents a shift towards more sustainable, resource-efficient, and economically viable rice cultivation practices. As the agricultural landscape evolves, DSR will play a crucial role in meeting the demand of a growing population while addressing environmental and economic challenges.”

“Farmers need to adopt appropriate practices, such as selecting suitable rice varieties and managing weeds effectively, to maximize the benefits of this cultivation method. DSR eliminates the labour-intensive process of rice transplantation, saving on labour costs. Since DSR reduces the duration of flooded fields compared to traditional rice cultivation, it contributes to lower methane emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas associated with flooded rice fields, leading to climate change and global warming,” Dr Singh added.

Speakers during the inaugural session discussed how remunerative is DSR for farmers as compared to traditional and transplanted rice cultivation, challenges in the adoption of DSR, training and capacity building of farmers, developing an ecosystem to encourage DSR adoption and synergies between Central and state government policies.

Addressing the conference, Ajai Rana, Chairman, FSII and Managing Director & CEO, Savannah Seeds, said, “The industry sees DSR as a technological advancement in rice cultivation. Direct seeding through machinery and drones, has the potential to further enhance efficiency and reduce dependence on manual labour, aligning with the modernization trends in Indian agriculture. The shift toward DSR creates opportunities for agribusinesses involved in the production and distribution of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and farm machinery. As more farmers adopt DSR, the demand for suitable inputs and equipment is likely to increase.”

“With a growing emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices, the industry recognizes DSR as a practice that contributes to resource conservation. The reduced water usage and lower methane emissions align with global sustainability goals, making DSR an attractive option for environmentally conscious stakeholders. The reduced need for water and seedling nurseries contributes to overall cost reduction in terms of inputs and resources. This is particularly crucial in regions facing water scarcity. DSR is a win-win situation for the farmers. While reducing costs, DSR provides better yields which results in better incomes for farmers.” Rana added.

The benefits of DSR are well known as it is resource efficient, environment and soil friendly, has higher yields and less manpower requirement due to the shift from flooded to direct seeding system which leads to variation in water, tillage, nutrients, the crop faces challenges of weeds, pest and diseases attacks, and lodging.

The majority of rice farmers constantly struggle with issues of water availability and cultivation costs. Rice is a staple food and has good export potential. At the same time, this rice is resource-intensive and has a severe impact on the environment. DSR promises to address these challenges however this requires the support of government policies and procurement systems to encourage farmers to switch from traditional rice cultivation methods to DSR.

Ultimately, industry players evaluate the economic viability of DSR both for farmers and the broader agricultural value chain. The potential for increased yields reduced input costs, and improved sustainability positions DSR as a valuable component of the agricultural landscape in India.

By Nitin Konde

Experts opined at a conference “DSR for

Agribusiness, AgroPolicy, Fruits, Horticulture, India, Trade

A consignment of 20 MT (1540 boxes) of bananas was flagged off under the banner of M/s. Gurukrupa Corporation Pvt., Ltd, the women entrepreneurship which is registered exporter of APEDA.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry facilitated the export of bananas from India to Russia via Sea by M/s. Gurukrupa Corporation Pvt. Ltd. a Mumbai-based exporter of fruits and vegetables regularly exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to the EU and the Middle East.

A consignment of 20 MT (1540 boxes) of bananas was flagged off on 17th February 2024 from Maharashtra by Chairman, APEDA, Abhishek Dev in a collaborative effort with the Central Institute of Sub-tropical Horticulture (CISH). APEDA highlighted the development of sea protocol employed for this shipment by CISH for maintaining the quality of fruit in transit.

Chairman APEDA encouraged more exporters to employ novel methods in shipping new products to new destinations, with APEDA supporting and facilitating these endeavors. He highlighted APEDA’s financial assistance scheme, which now is putting special emphasis on supporting women entrepreneurs. He applauded the contribution of CISH in the development of the sea protocols and congratulated all personnel for a successful flag-off. 

Recently, Russia has shown keen interest in the procurement of tropical fruits from India with bananas being one of them, which significantly is a major Agri import of Russia, which was presently, primarily being imported from Ecquador, in Latin America.

The major export destinations for Indian bananas include Iran, Iraq, UAE, Oman, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. Additionally, the USA, Russia, Japan, Germany, China, the Netherlands, the UK, and France present India with abundant export opportunities.

The consignment was flagged off under the banner of M/s. Gurukrupa Corporation Pvt., Ltd, the women entrepreneurship is a prolific registered exporter of APEDA. M/s. Gurukrupa Corporation procured bananas directly from farmers of Andhra Pradesh. After harvesting, banana was brought to an APEDA approved packhouse in Maharashtra where it was graded, sorted, packed, boxed and stuffed in containers. The container was transported to JNPT for further voyage to Novorossiysk port, Russia for the final destination at Moscow Russia.

Banana is a major horticultural produce with Andhra Pradesh being the largest banana-producing state in India, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. These five states collectively contribute around 67 per cent to India’s banana production in the fiscal year 2022-23.

Despite being the largest global producer of bananas, India’s exports do not reflect this quantitative evaluation. India’s export share in the global market is only 1 per cent even though the country accounts for 26.45 percent of the world’s banana production (35.36 million Metric Ton). In the fiscal year 2022-23, India exported bananas worth USD 176 million, equivalent to 0.36 MMT.

Within the next five years, Banana exports from India are expected to achieve the target of 1 billion USD. This achievement will ensure an increase in farmers’ income and improve the livelihood of more than 25,000 farmers and is estimated to generate employment for more than 50,000 aggregators directly or indirectly linked to the supply chain. 

A consignment of 20 MT (1540 boxes)

AgroPolicy, India, Seeds

FSII appreciates the GST rationalisations on seeds raw materials and services, and Atmanirbhar Oilseeds Abhiyan.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the interim Union Budget for forthcoming financial year (2024-25) in the parliament.FM announced schemes and special programmes for the various sectors of agriculture.

While sharing the post-budget reaction on behalf of Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) Ajai Rana, Chairman, FSII, CEO and Managing Director, Savannah Seeds Pvt Ltd said that having steered the economy to a glorious path in the last one decade with progressive reforms in agriculture, it is heartening to see the Finance Minister spell out the vision for making India Viksit by 2047 that relies on continued momentum on advances made so far. The Seed Industry is particularly happy to see the emphasis given on oilseeds and the imperative to make the sector self-reliant in this interim Budget.

We welcome the Finance Minister’s announcement on Atmanirbhar Oilseeds Abhiyan with a focused strategy on achieving self-reliance in oilseeds, such as mustard, groundnut, soyabean, sesame and sunflower. This is a timely and effective step that shall augment our aspirations to become self-reliant in this critical sector. As India continues to make rapid strides towards being a world leader, it is vital that we embrace globally approved technologies. The industry applauds Government’s focus on high yielding varieties of seeds, adoption of modern farming techniques, market linkages, procurement, value addition and crop insurance.

The Rs 1 lakh crore R&D corpus allocation for 50 years with low or nil interest is a visionary move guided by Hon PM’s focus on Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigya & Jai Anusandhan.

The focus on reform, perform and transform has been evident in the Government’s work in the last one decade. We sincerely hope in the Full Budget after the new government, we shall see the spirit reflected in aspirations of the seeds industry by way of GST rationalizations on seeds raw materials and services, deductions on R&D expenses, progressive environment for enabling more investments in the sector.

FSII appreciates the GST rationalisations on seeds

AgroPolicy, India, Supply Chain, Transportation

It has once again repeated the feat by crossing the 100 MMT mark, 7th year, in succession and achieved cargo throughput of 100.28 MMT on 18th December in the current fiscal.

Paradip Port achieved yet another 100 million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of cargo handling, in shortest time, in its history, showcasing the Port’s unwavering commitment to excellence and efficiency in cargo handling. It has once again repeated the feat by crossing the 100 MMT mark, 7th year, in succession and achieved cargo throughput of 100.28 MMT on 18th December in the current fiscal. Notably, in FY 2022-23 the coveted mark of 100 MMT was achieved on January 9th 2023. Thus by, the record was achieved in 22 days in advance i.e. in 262 days in current fiscal against 284 days in last financial year, by exhibiting 9.64 per cent growth in total cargo throughput. Thus, this century is the fastest by PPA, in its history.

The Port is poised to set all-time record cargo handling of more than 145 MMT in current fiscal. Various system improvement measures, introduced by the Port during this year, fuelled growth. Outbound Iron Ore and Pellet has shown remarkable 69.03 per cent growth in comparison to previous fiscal. Last fiscal, it amounted to 10.56 MMT over the same time period, whereas till 18th December, it stands at 17.85 MMT in current fiscal. Coastal Thermal Coal handling constitutes about 30.38 per cent of total cargo volume handled at the Port. The Port has also registered remarkable improvement in the Key Performance Parameters. Berth productivity stands at 32,689 MT per day per ship, which is the highest among all Major Ports of the country. The vessel turn-round-Time is recorded as 42.01 hrs. as against 47.60 hrs. during the corresponding period of previous year. Similarly, Pre-Berthing Detention is 1.18 hours as against 1.73 hours. during the corresponding period of previous year. Thus, Paradip port is emerging as a coastal shipping hub of the country and started coastal shipping of thermal coal to west coast, for the first time in history, i.e. Maharashtra based Power Plants. It further plans to expand coastal shipping of thermal coal to other regions in west coast.

The Port’s commitment to operational excellence, coupled with strategic improvements in cargo handling, has positioned it as a key player in catering to the growing needs of the industry. Marking the occasion, symbolic cake cutting was done today at Board Room by Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA in the presence of other HoDs and Dy. HoDs.

For the above feat, Haranadh, Chairman, PPA expressed his gratitude to Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways under whose inspiration, dynamic leadership and guidance, PPA could achieve the incredible success. He congratulated all Officers/Employees, the user industries, Stevedores, Steamer Agents, Trade Unions, PPP Operators for such amazing accomplishment in the ability of the Port to serve them. Chairman, PPA also appreciated the support of Government authorities like Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (Govt. of Odisha, Indian Railways, Customs and other departments for their continued support.

It has once again repeated the feat

Agro Universities, R&D, Sustainability

The MoU will provide further impetus to agricultural research and expansion activities

Dhanuka Agritech Ltd, India’s leading agri-input company, has signed an MoU with Bikaner-based Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agriculture University (SKRAU) to aid and promote soil management, availability of quality seeds, plant protection, better yield of crops and easy transfer of agri innovations’ benefits to the farmers. 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by R.G. Agarwal, Chairman, Dhanuka Agritech Limited, and Dr Arun Kumar, Vice Chancellor, SKRAU, Bikaner.

Briefing about the development, R. G. Agarwal, Chairman, of Dhanuka Group emphasised that agricultural knowledge, quality seeds, increasing the yield capacity of soil, water conservation in farming, and plant protection are fundamental requirements of farmers today. To enable this, the University and Dhanuka Group will work together. He also proposed to develop an ideal agricultural village through joint efforts and offered to provide scholarships, internships, and employment to the students of the university.   

Dr Prakash Singh Shekhawat, Research Director of SKRU said that the MoU will provide further impetus to agricultural research and expansion activities. Presiding over the function organized in the ‘Vidya’ pavilion of the university, Dr Arun Kumar, Chancellor said that the MoU will not only facilitate knowledge of the right medicines for plant protection but also Dhanuka Agritech will make arrangements for the availability of medicines through an outlet outside the university. 

The MoU will provide further impetus to

Collaborations, Company News, Europe, Logistics, Sustainability, Transportation

Commercially viable long-term offtake agreement for annual volumes of 500KT to enable low carbon operations for the first 12 large methanol-enabled Maersk vessels on order.

The offtake agreement between A.P. Moller – Maersk and Chinese developer Goldwind, a global leader in clean energy, reaches into the next decade and marks the first large scale green methanol offtake agreement for the global shipping industry.

This deal is a milestone for Maersk as it enables us to significantly reduce our emissions footprint in this decade and stay aligned with the 1.5-degree Celsius trajectory as set out in the Paris Agreement, ensuring continued supply of low carbon shipping services to our customers in the second half of this decade. The volumes combine a mix of green bio-methanol and e-methanol, all produced utilising wind energy at a new production facility in Hinggan League, Northeast China, around 1000km northeast of Beijing. Production is expected to begin in 2026. Following this signed offtake agreement, Goldwind expects to confirm a final investment decision for the facility by the end of the year.

A.P. Moller – Maersk will take delivery of its first large ocean-going methanol-enabled vessel (16,000 TEU) in the first quarter of 2024 and is diligently working on sourcing solutions with a broad range of global partners for the entire vessel series being delivered in 2024-25.

Rabab Raafat Boulos, Chief Infrastructure Officer at A.P. Moller – Maersk said, “A.P. Moller – Maersk aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 across its business. The deal significantly de-risks the initial stages of Maersk’s net-zero journey and supports expectations for a competitive green methanol market towards 2030. The record-high volumes can annually propel more than half the methanol-enabled capacity Maersk currently has on order.”

“Goldwind respects Maersk as a pioneer in the field of maritime green fuel and we are excited to jointly promote the green transition with Maersk. With this project, Goldwind will continue to explore the innovative application of new technologies, pursue the organic combination of green electricity and green fuel production, and optimize the production process of green methanol. Goldwind is committed to collaborating with companies involved in the green methanol industry, with the aim to make green methanol one of the most important and economically feasible clean maritime fuels in the future”, said Wu Gang, Chairman, Goldwind

Rabab Raafat Boulos also mentioned that we are encouraged by the agreement because its scale and price confirm our view that green methanol currently is the most viable low-emission solution for ocean shipping that can make a significant impact in this decade. The deal is a testament to the momentum and vast efforts we see among ambitious developers driving projects forward across geographies, however, we still have a long way to go in ensuring a global green fuels market that can enable the decarbonisation of global shipping.

Commercially viable long-term offtake agreement for annual

Agrotech, India, Industry Reports / Analysis, Seeds

According to TechSci Research, the Indian seed market is valued at $3,914.36 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.41 per cent by 2029. The seed industry has recently gained the attention of investors and Indian investors are eager to see Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) from the seed industry. The government has authorised FDI in agricultural fields such as development and production of seeds and planting material.  Apart from this, many private entities are getting attracted towards seed companies and are investing in them.  The latest example is Summit Partners, a private equity group, that has bought a minority investment in two of India’s leading seed companies, Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd. and Krishi Dhan Seeds. Crystal Crop Protection Limited recently made a smart purchase from Kohinoor Seeds by acquiring the Sadanand Cotton Seeds company. Leading seed companies are also incorporating cutting-edge digital technologies to mitigate the effects of pests, climate, and other external variables on farming, propelling the market to expand.  Data science, AI tools, cutting-edge phenomic analysis, and genomic sequencing are being leveraged to enhance production. However, there are certain challenges that are hampering the growth of this sector. For instance, marginal investment in R&D, short shelf life, unpredictability of demand, lack of effective monitoring mechanism, among others, are becoming a dampener in this growing sector. Let’s take a closer look at the Indian seed sector and gauge the projections for the future.

Over the decades, farmers across India have evolved a complex formal, informal, and integrated seed system that began with the age-old practice of saving seeds from preceding harvests. The diversity of formal seed systems has matured and the Indian seed industry has undergone significant transformation in the past 30 years.

Indicative of India’s evolving needs and market dynamics, the government’s initiatives  have also helped evolve and grow the seed platform. New and enhanced seed varieties  were primarily supplied  by public research bodies such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and international institutes such as the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Commenting on these vibrant developments in the seed sector, Rajendra Barwale, Chairman, Mahyco Pvt Ltd. stated, “Indian agriculture will continue to progress well to not only meet the growing food and nutrition requirements of the country, but also to become a significant player in the global agri produce market. Implementation of scientific and technological innovations will help overcome various challenges of the Indian agriculture sector.  Given that seed is the critical and determining input in the agriculture value chain, the seed industry will be a key contributor to this growth story by delivering the right technologies to our farmers.”

 “A vibrant seed sector is pivotal to growth of agriculture, and it has played a vital role in improving crop productivity in every part of the world over the years. For example, the green revolution in India which made us food surplus from ‘ship to mouth’ in the early years of independence, was rooted in the improved varieties that we bred using genetics of wheat and rice brought in from Mexico and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Manila respectively. We can give a number of examples of such transformations through the science of plant breeding, globally and in India. However, presently, the size of the seed sector, vis à vis its potential, is relatively very small compared to other agriculturally developed countries, offering us a large opportunity for future growth. Given that growth of the seed sector would have a multiplier effect on the progress of the agriculture sector, support of the Government of India for growing the seed sector would benefit all stakeholders of Indian agriculture, and most importantly our farmers”, added Barwale.

Tech catalyst

Since the late 1980s, several governmental policies have provided a significant boost to India’s seed sector, which had its roots in the 1960s with the founding of the National Seeds Corporation. The industry was bolstered and Indian farmers were able to increase their output after the introduction of the Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers Rights Act, 2001 and the release of Bt cotton hybrids for commercial cultivation in 2002. India’s seed market has grown to an expected $4–6 billion by 2023 (ISC, 2023; IMARC, 2023) and has significant unrealised potential as the seed hub for G20 countries.

G V Bhaskar Rao, Chairman & MD, Kaveri Seeds stated, “Seeds are becoming more regulated to accomplish a wide range of policy goals because of their significance, not just for farmers, but for society at large. Developing laws and regulations that support both formal and farmer-based seed systems while minimising negative impacts on breeding, selection, and seed output in either system is a challenge for policymakers”.

Improvements in seed technology have allowed for a greater variety of high-quality seeds to be produced, which perform better in a wider variety of environments. Applying seed technologies will guarantee good performance even under less favourable, unpredictable, and severe settings, while molecular technologies, speed breeding, and gene-editing tools speed up and improve the development of new crop varieties. Therefore, modern seed technology must integrate genetic improvement with applied technologies to deliver high-quality seeds of improved varieties with increased yields, lower input costs, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

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

According to TechSci Research, the Indian seed

Acquaculture, Agrotech, India, Live Stock, Middle East countries, Poultry, R&D, Sustainability

The collaboration addresses key environmental challenges while promoting a circular economy and waste management innovation.

CEF Group, a leading Indian organization dedicated to waste management, has partnered with Halman-Aldubi Group, a renowned Israeli company with expertise in finance, energy, climate, and technology management solutions, to convert slaughterhouse waste into protein-rich food for fish. Aiming to revolutionize waste management practices in the slaughterhouse industry, this partnership between CEF Group and Halman-Aldubi Group will ensure slaughterhouse waste management implementation in India in alignment with the commitment of India and Israel towards sustainability and innovation. By converting slaughterhouse waste into fish food, the collaboration addresses key environmental challenges while promoting a circular economy and waste management innovation.

The primary objective of this collaboration is to provide a valuable and eco-friendly solution for the utilization of slaughterhouse waste. Instead of being discarded or having negative environmental impacts, the waste will be harnessed to produce nutrient-dense food for fish.

“The collaboration between CEF Group and Halman-Aldubi Group signifies our joint commitment to addressing global challenges in waste management, environmental sustainability, and the production of high-quality fish feed,” said Maninder Singh, Founder & CEO, CEF Group.

“India plays a vital role in global meat exports as it has significant livestock resources. The poultry, livestock, and fisheries sectors contribute to over 6 per cent of India’s GDP, highlighting their economic importance. As the demand for nutritious food continues to rise, both in India and globally, the demand for meat is expected to follow suit, thereby contributing more to slaughterhouse waste generation. If this slaughterhouse waste is not managed properly, it can have detrimental effects on the environment leading to soil contamination, water pollution, foul odour, air pollution and disease transmission, ultimately affecting industry growth. Therefore, CEF Group is bringing forth this joint initiative to handle and manage slaughterhouse waste responsibly and mitigate these environmental and health concerns.”

Halman-Aldubi Group, with its expertise and cutting-edge technology, will ensure that the converted fish feed meets the nutritional requirements for optimal growth and health of fish. One notable aspect of this collaboration is the advanced technology employed in the conversion process.

“This pioneering technology uses a steam process to sterilize the input feed while guaranteeing a process free from burning or pollution. Moreover, the plant design optimization allows for the establishment of a 60-ton-per-day input feed plant in just 300-metre square of space. The plant can be set up within slaughterhouses, maximizing efficiency and convenience. This slaughterhouse waste can be utilized for various processes like Anaerobic Digestion, Enzymatic Hydrolysis, Rendering, Insect Bioconversion, Microbial Fermentation and Algae Cultivation. From waste reduction, recycling resource conservation and reduced harmful impact on the environment to enhanced fish health and nutrition and cost-effective and sustainable feed production, this initiative can bring a groundbreaking change”, said, Rony Halman, Chairman, Halman-Aldubi Group.

The collaboration addresses key environmental challenges while

Agrotech, Cold Storage, Company News, Packaging & Labelling, Supply Chain, World

As part of this multi-year project, Shank’s Extracts will expand its facilities to support current and future growth

Universal Corporation announced an approximately $30 million expansion project at its subsidiary Shank’s Extracts, LLC, a speciality ingredient, flavours and botanical extracts company, headquartered in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  As part of this multi-year project, Shank’s Extracts will expand its facilities to support current and future growth needs for additional liquid and dry manufacturing, packaging, and refrigerated storage. The project also includes installing other manufacturing capabilities to serve its customers better. “We are excited to announce this expansion in our facilities at Shank’s Extracts that will enable us to enhance and expand the product offerings of our plant-based ingredients platform,” stated George C. Freeman, III, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation.

Universal expressed appreciation for the support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the City of Lancaster for their coordination and support of this project. “Shank’s Extracts has a long and impressive history in Lancaster County, and DCED is proud to have worked with the company to ensure they continue to grow right here in Pennsylvania,” said Rick Siger DCED Secretary. “The Commonwealth has a lot to offer to food manufacturers, from our strategic location to our dedicated and skilled workforce.”

Universal Corporation, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a global business-to-business agri-products supplier to consumer product manufacturers, operating in over 30 countries on five continents.  We strive to be the supplier of choice for our customers by leveraging our farmer base, our commitment to a sustainable supply chain, and our ability to provide high-quality, customized, traceable, value-added agri-products essential for our customers’ requirements.  We find innovative solutions to serve our customers and have been meeting their agri-product needs for more than 100 years.  Since our founding in 1918, our principal focus has been tobacco, and we are the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. Through our plant-based ingredients platform, we provide a variety of value-added manufacturing processes to produce high-quality, speciality vegetable- and fruit-based ingredients as well as botanical extracts and flavourings for the food and beverage end markets.

As part of this multi-year project, Shank's

Agrotech, Company News, Foodgrains, India, Seeds

To foster a meaningful dialogue amongst diverse stakeholders to create a future roadmap to establish Rajasthan as a prominent hub for millets.

FICCI in partnership with Corteva Agriscience, organised a millet conclave – ‘Leveraging Rajasthan’s Millet Heritage’, in Jaipur.   The event aimed to showcase the strengths of Rajasthan in millets production and foster a meaningful dialogue amongst diverse stakeholders to create a future roadmap to establish Rajasthan as a prominent hub for millets. As the Chair of the task force, Corteva Agriscience will spearhead the Millet Roadmap initiative by the Rajasthan Government to accelerate the growth of the millet sector.

Delegates representing agribusiness, hospitality & tourism, policymakers, eminent scientists from renowned research institutions, progressive farmers and academia participated in the conclave. The panelists deliberated to take a holistic and multidimensional approach to address critical challenges in the millet value chain and catalyse an impactful partnership. The discussion also considered establishing a comprehensive understanding of the benefits and possibilities that millets can offer to both sustainable tourism and the livelihoods of local communities.

“Rajasthan with its diverse range of millet offerings in every region, should be promoted as a culinary destination. There is a tremendous opportunity to leverage millets in the tourism industry.” said Shreya Guha, Principal Secretary, Government of Rajasthan

Commenting on the event Jitendra Joshi, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Millets & Director Seeds, Corteva Agriscience – South Asia said, “Rajasthan, as the largest contributor to India’s millet production, holds the key to the success of millet initiatives in the International Year of Millets 2023. Today’s Millet Conclave served as a platform for multiple stakeholders to discuss the roadmap for advancing Rajasthan’s millet value chain. This comprehensive approach will create excellent opportunities for the state’s millet industry, not just locally but nationwide. Millets have proven to be a climate-resilient crop for rainfed areas, enhancing farmers’ income and supporting sustainable agriculture while providing nutritious food for the entire nation. Furthermore, millets open doors to new economic prospects for agribusinesses. Corteva is deeply committed to this cause, and through our extensive research and on-ground efforts in Rajasthan, we continue to add value to farmers and will persist in our dedication to their success”.

Corteva’s efforts in the millet value chain encompass by offering hybrid millet seeds that enhance their existing stress resistance and produce 15-20 per cent higher yield, provide disease resistance ultimately increase farmer productivity and profitability. Corteva’s India Research Centre in Jaipur runs rainy millets, summer millets and mustard breeding program. With partner programme such as “Pravakta” Corteva aims to engages with farmers to train and educate them in all crop management strategies, new hybrids, and empowers them as ambassadors to help train other farmers paving the way for a better tomorrow. In addition, the Antrashtriya Bajra Mahotsav held across the state aim to spotlight ecological benefits and nutritional value of millets to producers and consumers.

The company continues to focus on educating millet farmers about the use of technology-driven solutions that enable them to increase yield productivity and sustainable farming practices.

To foster a meaningful dialogue amongst diverse