Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Aquaculture Tech Startup Aquaconnect Bags FICCI’s “Best Agri Startup in Application of Digital Technologies Award”edit
Silicon India – Online
Chennai based tech infused Aqua farming startup, Aquaconnect, won the 1st runner up “Best Agri Startup in Application of Digital Technologies (Mature Stage) Award” at the third edition of Virtual FICCI Summit & Awards for Agri Start-Ups. The two day event gives Agri Startups a platform to showcase their exemplary projects implemented on a range of issues impacting Indian Agriculture and allied sectors.
The award was presented by Shri B.C. Patil, Hon. Agriculture Minister, Govt. of Karnataka. Speaking at the event, he said that agri start-ups can provide missing links in the agricultural value chain and deliver efficient, innovative products, technologies and services to farmers and consumers.
Move forward from moratorium & ban – efficacy of GM crops established in several countries, Indian farmer demands this technologyedit
APN News – Online
A virtual International Conference was conducted by Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), Alliance for Agri Innovation and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore on the topic ‘Current Scenario & Path forward for GM crops in India’.It saw discussions on how new technologies can address the problems of food insecurity, biotic and abiotic stresses, reducing expenses on crop inputs and hurdles in allowing the genetically modified (GM) crops for commercial release.More than 500 participants who joined the conference included scientists, researchers, biosafety regulators, government officials, students, academicians and general public. The speakers and audiences during the discussion pointed out that scientific data-based scrutiny of the GM technology is required and there is a need for public ...
Odisha to get regional pulses research centre at Khurdaedit
The New Indian Express – Online
In a bid to boost pulses production in the State, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Food Processing Industries Narendra Singh Tomar laid the foundation stone of a regional centre of Indian Pulses Research Institute (IIPR) at Khurda on the occasion of the World Pulses Day. Laying the foundation stone through virtual mode from New Delhi, Tomar said that better species and high-quality seeds are major components of a good crop. He said the regional centre will help the State to enhance pulses production and productivity of the crops.
“Keeping this in mind, 150 pulses seed hubs have been established. The overall agriculture sector should move forward, this is the need of the ...
How India can ‘spice up’ its agri productsedit
The Hindu Business Line – Online
India should focus on technologies such as Nanoencapsulation, cryo-grinding and artificial intelligence to improve cultivation as well as the quality of agriculture products, said delegates at Symsac X.
The second day of Symsac X, the international Symposium on Spices as Flavours, Fragrances and Functional Foods, discussed the importance of spice processing and value addition as well as cutting-edge technologies for plant health, two major areas in agriculture.
Sustainability strategiesC Anandharamakrishnan from the Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology stressed the importance of sustainability strategies for the food industry. Localised product and localised industry should be evolved for improved food processing, he said, adding that the availability of raw material in all areas can ...
Technology in Agriculture
Indian Agri-Tech will Draw 10 billion US Dollar Investment over Next 10 Years: FICCI-PwC Researchedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
The report, named ‘Agri-start-ups: Heralding next level of agricultural transformation,’ uncovers that the country’s present start-ups, assessed at more than 600, represent only 1 percent of the assessed future business opportunity of 24 billion US Dollar. This addresses the enormous capability of the country’s horticultural new businesses,said in the report .
Notwithstanding being a pandemic year, financial backers poured in more than 500 million US Dollar in agri-tech field in 2020, contrasted with 248 million US Dollar out of 2019.”With a huge ascent in venture action and taking a gander at the immense market capability of Agritech in India, industry specialists gauge that there will be speculations of more than or more 10 billion US Dollar ...
Buy Dhanuka Agritech; target of Rs 910: Emkay Global Financialedit
MoneyControl – Online
Dhanuka Agritech (DAGRI) beat our EBITDA/PAT estimates by 21%/27% due to better-than-expected cost control and 200bps yoy improvement in gross margins. Revenue increased 8.9% yoy to Rs2.96bn, marginally above our estimate (Rs2.90bn). Management guided that some of the cost savings in 9MFY21 were related to travelling and marketing restrictions due to Covid-19 and would return in FY22E. We have factored in a 104bps decline in EBITDA margins to more normalized 17.6% (mgmt. guidance of 16-17%). DAGRI also announced that it will foray into technical manufacturing at its Dahej site. This would help DAGRI reduce import of certain technical and also help build the export segment in future. We have not factored in the new capex in our ...
Govt. Policies
National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA): Towards the Mission of Digital Agricultureedit
Orissa Diary – Online
A Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA) was initially launched in 2010-11 in 7 pilot States, which aims to achieve rapid development in India through use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) for timely access to agriculture related information to the farmers. In 2014-15, the scheme was further extended for all the remaining States and 2 UTs. The scheme has been extended up to 31.03.2021.
Under Phase-II of the scheme, funds were released to States for carrying out the activities viz. site preparation of offices for installation of hardware and establishment of computer training labs, procurement, installation and accounting of hardware/system software. The back-up power arrangements, wherever required, Setting-up of State Project ...
Stubble Burning
Fossil fuel combustion caused 2.5 million premature deaths in India in 2018edit
Down To Earth – Online
Air pollution and higher particulate matter 2.5 concentrations in ambient air originating from fossil fuel combustion caused 2.5 million premature deaths in India in 2018, according to a new research.
While other studies, including the Global Burden of Disease report, quantifies the health impacts of PM 2.5, the recent research demarcates between PM2.5 pollutants generated via fossil fuel combustion and those from dust and biogenically sourced particles.
This, according to researchers, is a fresh set of multiplying evidence against usage of fossil fuels.
The study, published in journal Environmental Research on February 9, was conducted by researchers from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, University of Birmingham and University of University of Leicester.
They used ...
Tractor industry
TAFE unveils new tractor rangeedit
The Hindu – Online
TAFE (Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd) on Friday rolled out Dynatrack series, an advanced range of tractors for agriculture, haulage and commercial applications. Equipped with VersaTech technology, Dynatrack provides an extendable wheelbase, which makes it suitable for agricultural, haulage and commercial applications for around-the-year usage, it said.
“The Dynatrack series from TAFE sets new benchmarks in the tractor industry by offering utility and versatility, comfort and safety, productivity and efficiency, to meet the ever-evolving needs and aspirations of modern-day farmers and rural entrepreneurs, empowering them with superior technology and advantages that enrich their lives and livelihood,” said Mallika Srinivasan, CMD.
India’s first CNG tractor unveiled. Govt claims annual saving of ₹1 lakh on fuel costsedit
LiveMint – Online
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari unveiled India’s first CNG tractor that can reportedly save over ₹1 lakh annually on fuel costs, according to the government. The new tractor introduced today has been converted to CNG from diesel. Union Minister Gadkari is the owns the tractor that was converted to CNG and he was awarded the registration certificate by Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel.
The conversion was carried out jointly by Rawmatt Techno Solutions & Tomasetto Achille India. The government claims that it will help farmers increase their income by lowering operating costs. The government will start establishing retro fitment centres for CNG kits on tractors. The govt plans to set up such centres in every district.