Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Mumbai foodtech company helps farmers earn profits while the sun shinesedit
The Hindu – Online
Life is not easy for the ‘ugly ducklings’ of the agricultural world. For all the perfectly shaped fruits and vegetables that we buy from the green grocers, there are thousands left on their stalks to rot unharvested in the field simply because they do not meet the aesthetic criteria of retailers.
Mumbai-based foodtech innovator Science 4 Society (S4S) Technologies has been working to cut down on this waste by promoting solar dehydration as a way to preserve such produce. In the wake of the lockdown, the company, founded in 2014 by young entrepreneur Vaibhav Tidke along with collegemates Ganesh Bhere, Tushar Gaware, Shital Somani, Ashwin Pawade, Nidhi Pant and Swapnil Kokate, has empowered 2,700 women farmers ...
Indian Exports Of Agriculture And Allied Commodities Grow By 18 Per Cent To Rs 2.74 Lakh Crore During April 2020 – Feb 2021edit
Swarjya – Online
The export of agriculture and allied commodities during April 2020 to February 2021 were Rs 2.74 lakh crore as compared to Rs 2.31 crore in the same period last year, indicating an increase of 18.49 per cent.
The commodities displaying significant positive growth in exports were wheat, other Cereals, rice (other than basmati), soya meal, spices, sugar, raw cotton, fresh vegetable, processed vegetables etc.
Wheat posted a huge growth of 727 per cent over last year, increasing from Rs 425 crore to Rs 3,283 crore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare announced in a press release on Wednesday (21 April).
A fertile dung disposal solution for Kerala’s farmersedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Dung disposal has always been a headache for cattle farmers. Although it is a highly recommended organic fertiliser, it can be hard to store and dispose it of. “This made many farmers stop investing in cattle farming,” said Pradeep Subash, managing director of Farms Dairy.Pradeep, who owns his own cattle farm, is well aware of the issues faced by the farmers.
So, to help them, and to utilise cow dung, Pradeep started a mobile unit known as ‘Chanaka Vandi’, which dries and gives a powdery product that can be used as manure.
Competition
Deere’s new bogie skidder tackles various terrainedit
Equipment Journal – Online
John Deere’s new 768L-II Bogie Skidder is designed to tackle both soft ground and steep slope terrain.
Incorporating the proven features found on the John Deere L-II skidder lineup, the new 768L-II maximizes productivity, performance and comfort when carrying hefty loads over long distances in challenging conditions.
“When we look at being able to operate in wetter terrain and steeper conditions, we’re creating the potential to run the machine more and optimize productivity,” said Matthew Flood, product marketing manager for skidders at John Deere.
“We’re really using this machine and getting into areas that were previously challenging to get to and get wood out of with a four-wheel skidder.”
Technology in Agriculture
Agritech Startup, Barton Breeze introduces Bank Guarantee for Hydroponic Farmsedit
APN News – Online
Barton Breeze – a leader in commercial Hydroponic farming in India has recently started offering bank guarantees to its B2B customers through a nationalized bank of India. The bank guarantee is provided on end-to-end business models and executes projects on a turnkey basis that further reduces investment risks for customers.
A country like India has an arid climate which poses challenges to agriculture activities in the country. This gives rise to the adoption of hydroponic farming that does not require soil for growing plants. Since hydroponic produce can be grown in nutrient-rich water, it possesses a number of benefits for health-conscious people. With an increased interest of people in hydroponic farming and considering it required decent capital ...
Agri-tech firm introduces traceability feature ”Know Your Farmer”edit
Outlook – Online
A nascent agri-tech firm under the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has come up with the countrys first system that enables the consumer to detect the origin of the branded vegetables in the market.
Kochi-based Farmers Fresh Zone has introduced a unit- level traceability feature called ”Know Your Farmer” as part of quality control, facilitating regular checks to ensure non-toxic and pesticide-free products.
“We run on a simple philosophy: Connect rural farmers with urban customers by sourcing produce that is fresh as well as pure produce, delivering it at their doorsteps,” said Pradeep P S, the CEO of the 2016-founded company (FarmersFZ).
The firm, which provides access to safe-to-eat fruits and vegetables that are directly sourced from the ...
Tractor industry
Good monsoon forecast positive for tractor market: Hemant Sikka, President, Farm Equipment Business, M&Medit
The Economic Times – Online
India’s largest tractor maker, Mahindra & Mahindra is expecting strong growth momentum to sustain in the first half of FY-22 as higher price realisation and healthy rabi output is expected to drive demand.
Operating over 100% capacity in FY-21, Mahindra & Mahindra did undertake a series of debottlenecking measures which will enable the company to meet higher demand in FY-22, but to ensure sustainability of growth in the mid-term, the number one tractor maker is now on the lookout for a new factory.
In an interview to ET, Hemant Sikka, President, Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra recaps a record year of growth in FY-21 and how supply constraints limited the growth for the company in the year gone. He ...