Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar on Thursday stressed on increasing farm productivity and crop production as well as making farming activities profitable for the overall growth of the sector. He also said there is a need for balanced use of agro-chemicals and fertilisers by creating awareness.

 

Addressing an event 'India Chem 2022', Tomar said the government has undertaken various reforms in the agro-chemical industry and the process would continue in consultation with the stakeholders, including private manufacturing players.

 

He assured them that the government will make efforts to address the challenges faced by the industry.

 

Tomar emphasised on the need for coordinated and comprehensive efforts across various ministries and sectors to realise the true potential of India.

 

The two-day event was organised by FICCI along with the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

 

According to a FICCI statement, Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, said Indian agriculture is changing with the times and there is a need to adopt newer technologies and equipment.

 

'We need to have a balanced approach for using pesticides. The government is working in collaboration with the industry to solve the bottlenecks faced by the sector,' he added.

 

Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, said India can become a global player in the agrochemicals sector and there is potential to increase exports by 10 times.

 

'We have to bring ease of doing business along with regulations and create a right balance which will benefit the industry and the country,' he added.

 

Ahuja further said there are around 2,000 argi start-ups along with medium-large scale industries. He said there is a need to provide integrated package to farmers to resolve their issues.

 

'Our long-term vision is to make India a global player in agrochemicals sector along with increasing farmers productivity,' he said.

 

RG Agarwal, chairman of FICCI Crop Protection Committee and Group Chairman, Dhanuka Agritech, said agro-chemicals are one of the most important inputs to agricultural sector for providing food, nutrition, health, wealth, and environmental security to the nation.

 

'Agrochemicals play a major role in improving the agriculture productivity and the government has identified this sector as one of the 15 Champion industries under manufacturing sectors,' he added.

 

UPL Director Vikram Shroff said India will see more investments in chemicals and the agro-chemicals sector.

 

Simon Thorsten Wiebusch, Executive Director, Bayer Cropscience Limited and Country Division Head, Crop Science division of Bayer for India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, said image building for agriculture and the industry both within India and globally is very important.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said that the country is moving towards positive changes. The current scenario of India has changed, within the country and at the world level. Today we have the capability of making our nation strong in every respect. Shri Tomar said this at India Chem-2022 (12th Biennial International Conference and Exhibition, Vision-2030 - Role of Chemicals and Petrochemicals in Building India), organized by the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and FICCI, here today.

 

The Minister further said that with coordination we can achieve our goals in a given period in all areas. Government, farmers, and industry all have the same aim that our work should bring positive results. This will help the country to move forward. He said that the big economies of the world have not yet recovered from the impact of Covid, but still our country’s economy is strong. The reason for this is the timely steps taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The central government made many efforts one after the other for other industries including MSMEs and also for agriculture and the common poor man. Work was done to make vaccines on time, injecting the economy with schemes like PLI. Shri Tomar said with reference to the primacy of agriculture in India that the nature of any person and the country never changes. If we want to move forward, then we have to move forward according to our basic instinct. Agriculture and the agricultural economy is the strength of India. Agriculture should be profitable, production-productivity should increase, chemical-fertilizer should be used properly, awareness about soil health should increase, all this is necessary for the holistic development of agriculture. There was a time when only the availability of fertilizers and seeds or the creation of irrigation facilities was considered necessary for agriculture. Seed sellers used to think of seeds, Fertilizers seller used to see their own benefits but now when we think about the agriculture sector, then there is a need to think holistically. When this happens, everyone benefits from it. Farmers will be benefitted and the country will also get more employment opportunities. The Government of India has been working in this direction for the last eight years under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

 

Union Minister Shri Tomar said that the problems regarding the registration of pesticides were rectified after deliberation and review. The government is constantly trying to remove all such obstacles and problems. We all know that Prime Minister Shri Modi give emphasis on Ease of Doing. We will try our best to resolve all the hurdles faced by the industry, and the conclusions that will come in the deliberations of this conference. Shri Tomar said that all should join together, cooperate with each other, and move forward so that when India celebrates 100 years of independence, then we should get the pride of being citizens of a developed India. A strong and capable India should be handed over to the next generation. If we discharge the role that we all have, then we will definitely achieve this goal.

 

Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Bhagwant Khuba and Secretary Shri Arun Baroka, Agriculture Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja and representatives of various industries also expressed their views in the conference.

West Bengal has started exporting meat labelled with the state government-owned Haringhata brand to Qatar, ahead of the FIFA World Cup football tournament, officials said.

 

State minister for Animal Resources Development Swapan Debnath on Thursday said that besides Qatar, the state will also be sending goat and sheep meat from its processing centre in Haringhata -- owned by West Bengal Livestock Development Corporation to countries such as Kuwait, Hong Kong and Maldives.

 

'We will be exporting meat to multiple countries, having received an approval from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA),' he stated.

 

Debnath said that the department would urge its 'agents' to push for a deal with the authorities responsible for food supply during the tournament.

 

'We have received a contract for exporting 1.2 metric tonne of meat. Around seven tonne will be sent in six batches in a month,' the minister added.

In a major relief to edible oil traders, the Government of India has decided to remove the stock limit for oilseeds and edible oil. The relief was primarily given to wholesale traders and big chain retailers.

 

Shankar Thakkar, president of the All India Edible Oil Confederation, has said that the move will help in easing out the prices of edible oil. The decision by the Government will also help the traders to stock more and ultimately aid to increased supplies of all kinds of edible oil.

 

Further, he added that the move will bring relief to farmers, who until now were not getting enough buyers for their fresh oil seed crops because of the stock limit.

 

The decision by the Government to put a stock limit was taken after witnessing continuous price rise of edible oil from October 8, 2021. Under this order, the states were asked to put stock limits based on consumption patterns. Subsequently the order dates were extended to June 2022 and further extended till December 31, 2022.

 

Thakkar, meanwhile, said that the traders were demanding the removal of stock limit right from the time decision was taken and raised the issue before the authorities on several occasions.

 

According to Thakkar, the  primary reason for the removal of stock limit was easing of prices of edible oils in international as well as domestic markets.

 

According to the statement issued by the Government of India, 'As the price situation of major edible oils is now witnessing a gradual reversal as there is considerable decline in the prices of edible oil in the international market as well as the domestic market, the stock limit order was reviewed by the department.  A need was felt for exempting big chain retailers and wholesalers from the stock control order as reports were coming that wholesalers and big chain retail outlets were facing problems in their sale due to the Control Order as the limits specified for them were very less and replacement of shelf stocks in city limits is not possible on everyday basis.'

In the ongoing kharif marketing season NAFED has, so far, procured about 11,158 tonnes of moong (greengram) in Karnataka.

 

As per NAFED data, in Gadag district about 7,034 tonnes has been procured, while in Dharwad 1,462 tonnes have been purchased as on November 3. Similarly, about 813 tonnes has been procured in Belgam and 31 tonnes in Bidar.

 

Below MSP

Prices of moong are still ruling below the minimum support price of Rs.7,755 per quintal across various markets. In Gadag, the modal prices stood at Rs.6,448 per quintal as per the Agmarknet data. About 40,709 farmers have enrolled for selling moong to the Government agencies in the state.

 

In Rajasthan, the largest producer of moong, the public procurement of the pulses crop has begun on November 1, but details of the purchases made were not available. Prices of moong are ruling below the MSP levels across various markets in Rajasthan. Modal prices ranged between Rs.6,300-6,750 across various mandis in Rajasthan on Thursday.

 

According to the first advance estimates for 2022-23, moong output is pegged at 1.75 million tonnes (mt), lower than the targetted 2.50 mt, but higher than the fourth advance estimates of 1.48 mt of the previous year.

 

Fact.MR’s report predicts the global honey market to register a positive CAGR of 5.3% by accumulating a market value of US$ 15.2 Bn in the forecast period 2021-2031. Manufacturers of honey are focusing on providing honey in flavored and unadulterated formats.

 

Over the last five years, between 2016 and 2020, the global honey market exceeded a market value of $9 billion, expanding at a CAGR of 4% across the historical period. Consumption of honey especially increased amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, as individuals sought to consume those foods which helped enhance immunity and offer protection from microbe-based infections.

 

Manufacturers of honey are focusing on importing honey and providing it on a larger geographical scale. The demand from end industries such as bakeries and beverages has propelled over time. This, in turn, has positively impacted the sales of honey.

 

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) may soon notify norms for permitting exporters to avail incentives under the foreign trade policy, even on realisation in rupee, an official said. The DGFT, under the commerce ministry, has already allowed invoicing, payment and settlement of exports and imports in Indian rupee, a move aimed at facilitating trade in the domestic currency.

 

In July, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had asked banks to put in place additional arrangements for export and import transactions in Indian rupees in view of increasing interest of the global trading community in the domestic currency.

 

'To permit exporters avail incentives under the foreign trade policy, norms will have to be notified for that,' the official said.

 

The DGFT has stated that settlement of trade transactions in INR may also take place through special rupee vostro accounts opened by authorised dealer banks in India.

 

India on Thursday said it is working 'sincerely' with the UK for finalisation of the proposed free trade agreement, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak agreed on the 'early conclusion' of the deal. 'Both sides are working sincerely on the free trade agreement,' External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

 

His comments came when asked about the FTA during a media briefing.

 

'As we have said earlier, the matter of negotiations is best left to the trade ministers and their teams of officials. I cannot comment on the status. I certainly do not have any target date,' Bagchi said.

 

The issue of the FTA figured in the first telephonic conversation between the two prime ministers on October 27.

 

In a tweet on his talks with Sunak, Modi said: 'Congratulated him on assuming charge as UK PM. We will work together to further strengthen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We also agreed on the importance of early conclusion of a comprehensive and balanced FTA.'

 

In April, the two sides had set a Diwali deadline for concluding the FTA but the deal could not be finalised in view of differences over certain issues.

 

It is learnt that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly took stock of the ongoing negotiations for the FTA during their talks here last week.

 

Cleverly visited India to attend a United Nations meet on counter-terrorism.

 

To a question on the US not having a full time ambassador to India, Bagchi said 'we would hope the position would be filled soon'.

 

The Biden administration had in July 2021 announced the nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as the next US Ambassador to India.

 

However, Garcetti's nomination is yet to receive confirmation from the US Senate.

A 12-member delegation from Taiwan is in India on a green mission. Led by Lih Kuan Lee from China Productivity Center(CPC), Taipei , the delegation members comprising industry leaders, experts and service providers in green technology, climate resiliency, energy efficiency, smart e-mobility, wastewater treatment and smart agriculture will during their eight-day tour  visit various hospitals, effluent treatment plants, engineering institutions and other industries spread across Delhi, UP, Haryana and Tamil Nadu.

 

The aim is to provide innovative green solutions to these institutions and help them walk a clean energy path to curb carbon footprints in the wake of growing climate change threats.  Lee said that based on her experience with Indian industry, she saw numerous possibilities for Taiwanese green technologies to reduce energy consumption by 10 to 15 per cent while reducing an equal amount of Greenhouse Gas in India.

 

She was speaking at a meet here on Monday which was facilitated by National Productivity Council (NPC), an apex productivity promotion autonomous body under DPIIT, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

 

Technologies such as cloud connected e-mobility, power generating elevators, energy saving HVAC systems for buildings, Bionet and electrodialysis for industrial waste water treatment, IoT based grain processing and storage are the focus areas identified by NPC with its Taiwan counterpart,  Council’s Director General Sundeep Nayak said.

 

The move is a part of the NPC  and CPC of Taiwan's ongoing collaboration with Taiwan under the framework of the inter-governmental Asian Productivity Organization (APO Tokyo). 

 

The duo has been working together to give a boost to green productivity enhancement in Indian MSME through adoption of high technology products and processes in a range of sectors, explained Nayak.

 

The NPC India has been providing energy and environment solutions to Indian industry since the mid 1990’s. Recently NPC has embarked upon a major task to help Industry meet sustainable goals, explained Nayak.

 

The Modi Government has committed to reach its non-fossil energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030 and 50 percent of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030 in its journey towards Net Zero by 2070.

 

In contrast,  Taiwan has decided to achieve a goal of net zero emissions by 2050, demonstrating its determination to actively reduce carbon emissions.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Kailash Choudhary, today said that there would be a separate division of agri startups to be set-up in the ministry to be led by Joint Secretary. Soon an accelerator programme with Rs 500 crore will be started to take forward the successful initiatives of agri startups in which the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), agri incubators, agriculture universities, research institutes, investors and other stakeholders will be included.

 

Addressing the 5th edition of FICCI Agri Start-up Summit & Awards 2022, Choudhary said, “A cell will also be created to work as a single window agency to facilitate all the linkages required for agri startups,” he added.

 

Dr. Sudhanshu, Secretary, APEDA, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, GOI, emphasised that increasing agricultural exports is a national imperative and agri startups are potential partners in this journey. Efforts are being made to promote and support agri startups for engagement in agri exports and strengthening of the startup ecosystem

 

Dr Neelam Patel, Senior Advisor (Agriculture & Allied Sectors), NITI Aayog said that agri startups are taking a pragmatic approach towards innovation that is solving farmer problems at the ground level. She further added that now it’s time to push the throttle towards export orientation and build synergies with FPOs.

 

Hemendra Mathur, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Agri Start-ups, highlighted that startups can build innovative solutions around traceability, quality assaying and trade facilitation to boost India’s food and agri exports. On the adverse impacts of climate change as well as financing challenges in the agriculture sector, he said, “Agritech, climate-tech and fintech have to merge with each other to handle these challenges.”

 

Vedika Kapoor, Head GA, South Asia, Corteva, speaking at FICCI’s Agri Startup event said, sustainable innovation, soil health management and providing climate-resilient technologies to farmers are vital. Sustainability is no more an option but a necessity, it has to be a collective responsibility of all.

 

US Soy embraces sustainable agricultural practices to meet today’s global need for soy products without compromising the ability for future needs to be met said, Jaison John, Team Lead -India at US Soybean Export Council (USSEC).

 

The agricultural sector contributes 25 per cent to overall GHG emissions. Going ahead, agri startups need to focus on providing affordable and innovative solutions while reducing food wastages, improving agri supply chain efficiency and minimising carbon footprints said, Ashok Varma, Partner, PwC.

 

TR Kesavan, Chair, FICCI Agriculture Committee and Group President, TAFE at FICCI Agri Start-up Summit & Awards said that cutting-edge technology is changing the agriculture sector in India. The startup ecosystem is creating a legacy which is expected to continue in generation alpha.

 

AGRITECH

Agriculture ministry to set up a division to accelerate agri startups

November 2, 2022 - by Agriculture Post - Leave a Comment

Agriculture ministry to set up a division to accelerate agri startups

An accelerator program will be started to take forward the successful initiatives of agri startups in which DARE, DPIIT, agri incubators, research institutes and other stakeholders will be included

Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Kailash Choudhary, today said that there would be a separate division of agri startups to be set-up in the ministry to be led by Joint Secretary. Soon an accelerator programme with Rs 500 crore will be started to take forward the successful initiatives of agri startups in which the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), agri incubators, agriculture universities, research institutes, investors and other stakeholders will be included.

 

Addressing the 5th edition of FICCI Agri Start-up Summit & Awards 2022, Choudhary said, “A cell will also be created to work as a single window agency to facilitate all the linkages required for agri startups,” he added.

 

Dr. Sudhanshu, Secretary, APEDA, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, GOI, emphasised that increasing agricultural exports is a national imperative and agri startups are potential partners in this journey. Efforts are being made to promote and support agri startups for engagement in agri exports and strengthening of the startup ecosystem

 

Dr Neelam Patel, Senior Advisor (Agriculture & Allied Sectors), NITI Aayog said that agri startups are taking a pragmatic approach towards innovation that is solving farmer problems at the ground level. She further added that now it’s time to push the throttle towards export orientation and build synergies with FPOs.

 

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Hemendra Mathur, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Agri Start-ups, highlighted that startups can build innovative solutions around traceability, quality assaying and trade facilitation to boost India’s food and agri exports. On the adverse impacts of climate change as well as financing challenges in the agriculture sector, he said, “Agritech, climate-tech and fintech have to merge with each other to handle these challenges.”

 

Vedika Kapoor, Head GA, South Asia, Corteva, speaking at FICCI’s Agri Startup event said, sustainable innovation, soil health management and providing climate-resilient technologies to farmers are vital. Sustainability is no more an option but a necessity, it has to be a collective responsibility of all.

 

US Soy embraces sustainable agricultural practices to meet today’s global need for soy products without compromising the ability for future needs to be met said, Jaison John, Team Lead -India at US Soybean Export Council (USSEC).

 

The agricultural sector contributes 25 per cent to overall GHG emissions. Going ahead, agri startups need to focus on providing affordable and innovative solutions while reducing food wastages, improving agri supply chain efficiency and minimising carbon footprints said, Ashok Varma, Partner, PwC.

 

TR Kesavan, Chair, FICCI Agriculture Committee and Group President, TAFE at FICCI Agri Start-up Summit & Awards said that cutting-edge technology is changing the agriculture sector in India. The startup ecosystem is creating a legacy which is expected to continue in generation alpha.

 

Pankaj K Dwivedi, Head of BD & Agronomy, nurture.farm highlighted that the burden of sustaining food systems needs to be distributed instead of cantered on farmers. All the major stakeholders need to look for simple and implementable solutions.

 

FICCI-PwC Knowledge report ‘AgTech: A smarter route to sustainable agriculture’ was released during the event.

 

Key highlights of the Knowledge report

 

FICCI PwC Knowledge report emphasises that the requirement for food is growing year on year however the land area producing the crops are more or less the same. The world is going to face a challenge in ensuring food availability for approx. 9.73 billion people by 2050 while sustaining the environment at the same time. The solution to this lies in innovative and smart technological solutions for increasing crop production and maintaining ecological balance.

 

In addition, climate change poses a severe threat to crop yield and thus ensuring food security is going to be a challenge in the future. Agriculture alone contributes to 25 per cent of GHGs emissions and it becomes exigent to adopt and promote agricultural practices that ensure food security while conserving the environment at the same time.

 

The report recommends a four-pronged ‘UDAI’ approach for achieving sustainable agriculture through agritech startups

 

Unique solutions for regenerative practices and natural solutions are imperative.

Developing a transparency and traceability system is important for future agriculture.

Adequate training and education for service providers and farmers are vital

Innovation through R&D and fostering a networking culture need to be promoted.