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01 Sep, 2022 News Image India approves import of Japanese apples (Ringo), first shipment to reach by year-end.
People in India would soon be able to enjoy the juicy and sumptuous taste of Japanese apples – also called Ringo as the Indian government has finally approved the import of apples from Japan. Till now, the import of Japanese apples into India is completely prohibited to check the entry of pests though Japan is allowed to export peaches and cherries to India.
 
According to the Japanese Embassy and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) officials, the Indian authorities approved import the  Japanese apples during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to India in March this year. This approval is, however, subject to the pre-inspection approvals and clearance of quarantine procedures.
 
'In October, an Indian team of inspectors would visit apple farms and exports facilities in Japan to check the situation of the farms, and see how do they grow apples safely and naturally. We expect the first commercial shipment of apples to reach India after this sometime by the end of this year,' SUZUKI Takashi, Chief Director-General, JETRO, India and WATANABE Ikko, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan told Asian Community News (ACN) Network.
 
JETRO is a Japanese government-related organization to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and foreign countries, like APEDA.
 
When asked about the quantum of apples Japan would be exporting to India and its office’s exports projections, the Japanese officials said that the Ministry of Agriculture of Japan has conducted a study of the Indian market.
 
'However, since the high-quality and juicy Japanese apples are 2-3 times costlier than the USA apples, Japanese exporters may target the target audience in the creamy layer of the market in India,' said Ikko WATANABE.
 
India that is one of the major consumers of apple in the world. It largely depends upon apple imports from the USA after the Indian government banned apples from China sometime back. Earlier USA and China together would meet about 80% of the apple demand in India that imports more than 22 times the apples it produces.
 
The breakthrough in the negotiations between India and Japan took about 12 years as these started in 2010. Japan and India agreed on allowing only the trial shipments of Japanese apples into India in December 2019 only. Japan sent eight trial shipments of apples between 2020 and 2022.
 
The very first trial shipment of apples from Aomori – the northernmost prefecture (state) of Japan, the mecca of apple growers, reached New Delhi in February 2020
 
As Jammu & Kashmir is known for producing quality apples in India, Aomori prefecture produces more than half of the total Japanese apple production in Japan and is best known for huge apple orchards here. Aomori grows more than 50 million tons of apples a year.
 
Japanese apples and peaches promotion event: 
 
Recently a select group of foods industry experts and those associated with the food & beverage industry laid their hands on the awfully sweet, juicy Japanese apples and peaches (Momo) with crispy texture in New Delhi.
 
This event, which was organised  by Embassy of Japan and JETRO aimed at introducing the characteristics of Japanese apples to Indian importers. And also, in this event, Japanese peaches were introduced to India for the first time.
 
Apples from Aomori Prefecture and peaches grown in Okayama, Fukushima and other prefectures were served along with desserts made with them.
 
Indian tasters said that Japanese apples are much sweeter and tasty than other ones available in Indian market.

 Source:  asiancommunitynews.com
01 Sep, 2022 News Image Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Vegetables at Baramati helping establish new technologies.
Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare visited the Indo-Dutch, Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Vegetables at Baramati, District Pune, Maharashtra and interacted with the farmers.
 
The main objective of setting of the CoE is to establish a demonstration hub for vegetable production and transfer of technologies to the extension workers and farmers in the region through their training and capacity building. Introduction of advanced technologies that are required to increase vegetable production and reduce losses in the supply chain (Field/ PHT/ Storage/ Transportation) are being shown to the farmers and extension workers. These techniques include protected cultivation, hydroponics, improved seeds and quality planting material, fertigation, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), etc.
 
The other objectives of the project includes supply of quality planting material of vegetables, demonstration of hi-tech protected cultivation technologies in vegetables crops, efficient use of water & fertigation through atomization, standardizing good agricultural practices to ensure higher yield and enhanced income to the farmers. The CoE facilitated the training of various level of officers, NGOs, private entrepreneurs, etc. and paved a way to develop value chain, promote employment generation and market intelligence to maximise income of farmers.
 
The major technology intervention under the project includes production of pest & disease free planting materials in hi-forced ventilated poly house, to use Italian media filling cum seeding machine for production of planting material, to use automatic robot in vegetables seedlings production for irrigation & fertigation, demonstration of soil less cultivation, European soil less grow bags, vertical grow bags, exotic crops like bell pepper, cherry tomato, beef tomatoes, leafy exotics & hanging muskmelons, to introduce Dutch agriculture techniques like pollination, trellising, training & pruning, butterfly vent climate control system, sensors, weather system, climate control, fertigation stock solutions and drain water recycling.  Capacity building programme including India’s first ToT Programme (Training of Trainers) & Skill Development Training programmes for young entrepreneurs & FPOs, to introduce value chain Management Programme (Market Linkages) for Agriculture Produce commodity.
 
This Centre also provides skill development trainings to the needy people to encourage the self employment and creation of technology awareness which attracts many youngster towards agriculture.  
 
A total of 7 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) of Indo-Dutch collaboration have been approved so far in 4 States.  Out of which, 2 centres are completed in the State of Maharashtra and 5 CoEs are at various stages of completion. Beside these 7 CoEs there are 3 private CoEs also.  These 7 CoEs and 3 private CoEs are operational in the States of Maharashtra, Punjab, Jammu Kashmir, Kerala and Karnataka with specific focus on horticulture crops, fruits, vegetables, potatoes and flowers.
 
Dr. Likhi also visited the Dutch Green house at CoE, KVK Baramati, which aims to maximise the crop production from less resources e.g. water, pesticides, manpower etc, which not only adds value to the entrepreneurs but also increases the quality of the produce being residue free.  The main focus of this green-house is on demonstrating technologies under protected cultivation.
 
Dr. Likhi also reviewed the activities of CoE, Baramati during which the Director of the CoE made a detailed presentation.  All the 7 CoEs and 3 private CoEs and Agri Start-Ups working in the region made presentations on innovations and technologies being used by them to cut down the transaction costs and create better market linkages for farmers growing fruits and vegetables. During these interactions, Ministry officials, officials of the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Directors of all CoEs, 23 National Research Centres for Horticulture of ICAR State Horticulture Directors and other stakeholders were connected through Video Conference.
 
Dr. Likhi directed all the stakeholders to ensure that the technological demonstrations being practiced in the 7 CoEs should be widely disseminated in the villages surrounding the CoEs especially to extend its benefits to the small and marginal farmers for practicing profitable agriculture.

 Source:  en.krishakjagat.org
01 Sep, 2022 News Image National Bee Board Hosts Workshop on 'Strengthening of Export Potential of Honey'.
The National Bee Board hosted a workshop on 'Strengthening of Export Potential of Honey' at Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), Pune, Maharashtra, under the direction of Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (NBB).
 
 
During the workshop, Dr. Likhi introduced bee wax products created by FPOs. At VAMNICOM, Pune, it was also decided to launch a cooperative honey project. Future plans for promoting honey's export were also discussed by honey processors, exporters, and FPOs and Agri start-ups.
 
Dr. Likhi urged the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) to mobilize small and marginal beekeeping farmers for remunerative income generation by involving all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)/Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Bee Societies, and organizations like NDDB, NAFED, & TRIFED.
 
Currently, the National Bee Board has 12,699 registered beekeepers, 19.34 lakh honey bee colonies, and India produces about 1,33,200 metric tonnes of honey (2021-22 2nd advance estimate). India, one of the world's top honey exporters, exported 74,413 MT of honey in 2021–2022 for a total of Rs. 1221.17 Crores. More than half of India's honey production is exported to other nations.
 
India exports honey to 83 different nations. The USA, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Canada, etc. are the main markets for Indian honey. Some of the most popular types of honey exported from India include mustard honey, eucalyptus honey, lychee honey, sunflower honey, pongamia honey, multi-flora Himalayan honey, acacia honey, and wild flora honey. 102 projects totaling Rs. 133.31 crores in assistance have been approved so far under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM).
 
Under the Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) Act, the government keeps an eye on the quality of goods exported from India through the Department of Commerce and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Department of Commerce developed the import, export, and trade-in food policies. APEDA provides financial support and a variety of incentives to companies that export agricultural foods like honey.
 
100 FPOs of Beekeepers/Honey Producers are allotted to TRIFED (14 nodes), NAFED (60 nodes), and NDDB (26 nodes) for the implementation of NBHM activities under the 'Formation of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations' scheme.
 
Therefore, 77 FPOs of Beekeepers/Honey Producers have been registered or formed thus far out of the total 105 FPOs allotted to NBB. For the purpose of keeping track of the traceability of honey and other beehive products, the Ministry of Agriculture and FW has also created the 'Madhukranti Portal,' an online portal.

 Source:  krishijagran.com
31 Aug, 2022 News Image Goyal reviews ongoing FTAs; deliberates ways to fast track negotiations.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday reviewed the progress of India’s ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.
 
'Deliberations focused on ways to fastrack negotiations to achieve mutually beneficial FTAs, paving the way for increased exports, investments and people to people ties,' the minister’s office said in a tweet.
 
India is negotiating trade deals with developed nations such as the UK, Canada and the EU.
 
India and the UK had completed five rounds of negotiations in July. Last month, Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyan had said the India-UK free trade FTA negotiations will be concluded by August 31 and the trade deal will be signed by Diwali as decided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Boris Johnson. Government officials said negotiations with the UK are at an advanced stage and could be wrapped up soon.
 
FTA talks with the EU and Canada were also launched earlier this year. The fourth round of negotiations with Canada is expected to take off next month, while in the case of the EU, the third round of discussions are expected in October.
 
Negotiations between India and Australia towards a comprehensive trade agreement are expected to begin from September, with focus on chapters such as digital trade, government procurement, among other areas. Both nations had signed an interim free trade deal —Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) — in April, the ratification of the deal may take a few more months due to the procedural delays caused by the formation of a new government in Australia.
 
These trade deals are in line with India’s revamped its foreign trade strategy, as it intends to send a message to the world that India is open for business.

 Source:  business-standard.com
31 Aug, 2022 News Image India's economy probably grew at its fastest pace in a year in June qtr.
India's economy probably achieved its fastest annual expansion in a year in the April-June quarter, economists said, expecting the pace to sharply slow this quarter and in the next two as higher interest rates hit economic activity.
 
Gross domestic product (GDP) in the three months to June 30 was probably 15.2% higher than a year earlier, a Reuters poll showed this week. January-March GDP was up 4.1% on a year before.
 
The last time India's GDP achieved higher annual growth was in April-June 2021, when it was 20.1% higher than the pandemic-depressed level of a year before.
 
Forecasts for the latest quarter ranged from 9.0% to 21.5%. The official release is due at 1200 GMT on Wednesday.
 
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised its benchmark repo rate by 140 basis points since May, including 50 basis points this month, while warning about the impact of a global slowdown on domestic growth prospects.
 
The latest Reuters poll showed the economists expected growth this quarter could slow sharply to an annual 6.2% before decelerating further to 4.5% in October-December.
 
Many economists expect another rate hike of about 50 basis points next month, followed by one more of 25 basis points thereafter.
 
Consumer spending, which accounts for nearly 55% of economic activity, has been hit hard following a rise in prices of food and fuel, though monthly inflation has moderated in the past three months.
 
Sales of two-wheel vehicles are an indicator of the health of the economy. In April-June they were 5.03 million units, higher than in the same periods of 2021 and 2020 but nearly one-fifth lower than in 2019, industry data showed.
 
Economists judge that such frequently available indicators show India's economy, Asia's third largest, is so far holding up well to worsening conditions.
 
'More timely data suggest that resilience has continued in Q3 (July-September) too,' said Shilan Shah, India economist at Capital Economics, Singapore, noting that the economy had better resisted the impact of the Omicron wave in January-March than it had coped with the previous wave of pandemic.
 
But the economy faces downward risks, because companies' investment plans could be impacted by tighter monetary conditions and higher input costs, Shah wrote in a note to clients last week.
 
A depreciation in the rupee of more than 7% against the dollar this year has made imported items costlier for consumers and businesses.

 Source:  business-standard.com
31 Aug, 2022 News Image Dr. Lekhi inaugurates Workshop on 'Strengthening of Export Potential of Honey' at VAMNICOM.
Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare chaired the Workshop on 'Strengthening of Export Potential of Honey' today at Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), Pune, Maharashtra organised by the National Bee Board (NBB).
 
Dr. Likhi launched bee wax products manufactured by FPOs during the workshop. It was also decided to establish a cooperative honey project at VAMNICOM, Pune.  Experiences were also shared by honey processors/ exporters and FPOs / agri start-ups about future strategies for export promotion of honey.
 
Dr. Likhi urged that efforts should be made under National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) involving all the stakeholders i.e. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) / Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Bee Societies and agencies such as NDDB, NAFED & TRIFED to empower small and marginal bee keeping farmers for remunerative income generation.
 
Background
At present, about 12,699 Beekeepers and 19.34 lakhs honey bees colonies are registered with National Bee Board and India is producing about 1,33,200 Metric tonnes of Honey (2021-22  2nd advance estimate). India is one of the major honey exporting countries in the World and has exported 74,413 MT of Honey worth Rs. 1221.17 Crores during 2021-22. More than 50% of the honey production in India is being exported to other countries. India export honey to about 83 countries. The major markets for Indian honey are USA, Saudi Arab, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Canada, etc.  Mustard honey, eucalyptus honey, lychee honey, sunflower honey, pongamia honey, multi-flora Himalayan honey, acacia honey and wild flora honey are some of the major varieties of honey exported from India. Total 102 projects for assistance of Rs. 133.31 crores sanctioned under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) NBHM till date.
 
The quality of products exported from India is monitored by the government through the Department of Commerce and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under the Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) Act. Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry formulated the trade policy for food trade, import, and export. APEDA offers various incentives and financial assistance to the exporters of agricultural food products, including honey.
 
Under the scheme of 'Formation of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations, 100 FPOs of Beekeepers/ Honey Producers are allotted to TRIFED (14 nos.), NAFED (60 nos.) and NDDB (26 nos.) for implementation of activities under NBHM. Thus, out of total 105 FPOs allotted to NBB, 77 FPOs of Beekeepers/ Honey Producers have been registered/ formed till date. The Ministry of Agriculture & FW has also developed an online portal i.e.'Madhukranti Portal' to maintain traceability records of honey & other beehive products.

 Source:  pib.gov.in
31 Aug, 2022 News Image Organic Herbal Medicine Market to Surpass 428.50 Billion by 2029 Demand for Natural and Organic Products to Support Growth.

Exactitude Consultancy, the market research and consulting wing of Ameliorate Digital Consultancy Private Limited has completed and published the final copy of the detailed research report on the Organic Herbal Medicine Market.

The global Organic Herbal Medicine Market is expected to reach US$ 428.50 Billion by 2029, growing at an estimated CAGR of 10.4% over the forecast period.

Herbs that have been grown organically are those that have been grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers on unpolluted land. Turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and garlic are among the organic herbs that are regarded as healthful foods. Nevertheless, organic herbal medicine refers to the use of organic herbs for therapeutic purposes. Growing consumer awareness of health issues is to blame for the market expansion and increased product demand. People are switching to natural elements in medical care goods as well as healthier diets all across the world. The market for organic herbal medicines is expanding on a worldwide scale due to these factors.

Request a sample of the Organic Herbal Medicine Market Strategic Report:

https://pharmaresearchconsulting.com/reports/organic-herbal-medicine-market-growth-trends-and-forecast-2029-by-types-horsetail-dandelion-echinacea-valerian-st-john-s-wort-lemon-balm-by-nature-organic-conventional-by-end-use-medicinal-tea-cosmeceuticals-by-regions/inquiry

Due to the developing industrial trends of the current situations, which cannot be disregarded, the majority of the nations are predicted to become the region with the fastest growth and have the greatest market share in the worldwide industrial Organic Herbal Medicine market. Regional insights have been divided geographically into the regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and The Middle East and Africa.

Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Development: -

  • India has reached out to top American pharma companies seeking investment in the country's pharmaceutical and medical devices sector
  • The Serum Institute of India will invest 240 million pounds in the UK
  • The annual change in WPI notified by the government works out to 0.5% for 2020, the drug prices regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority said.
     
Report Attribute Details
Revenue forecast in 2029 428.50 Billion
Growth Rate CAGR of 10.4% from 2022 to 2029
Base year for estimation 2021
Historical data 2017-2021
Forecast period 2022 - 2029
Quantitative units Revenue in USD billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2029
Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends
Segments covered Types, Application, region
Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa
Country scope U.S.; Canada; U.K.; Germany; China; Japan; India; South Korea; Brazil
Key companies profiled Guangzhou Pharma, Zand, Tsumura, Nature’s Answer, Madaus, Herbal Africa, Nature Herbs, Haiyao, JZJT, Potter’s, Sanjiu, Tongrentang, Bio-Botanica, Weleda, Arizona Natural, Yunnan Baiyao, Taiji, Blackmores, TASLY, SIDO MUNCUL, Schwabe, Kunming Pharma, Arkopharma, Dabur, Zhongxin, Imperial Ginseng


Organic Herbal Medicine Market Players

The major players operating in the global augmented reality industry include Guangzhou Pharma, Zand, Tsumura, Nature’s Answer, Madaus, Herbal Africa, Nature Herbs, Haiyao, JZJT, Potter’s, Sanjiu, Tongrentang, Bio-Botanica, Weleda, Arizona Natural, Yunnan Baiyao, Taiji, Blackmores, TASLY, SIDO MUNCUL, Schwabe, Kunming Pharma, Arkopharma, Dabur, Zhongxin, Imperial Ginseng

Organic Herbal Medicine Market COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The COVID-19 epidemic had a big effect on the industry and trade sector.

Through reorganizing their sales channels and product innovation, manufacturers are understanding ways to recover from the current scenario.

When determining the pandemic's overall effects, the length of the virus spread continues to be a crucial consideration. After 2022, the organic herbal medicine market is anticipated to stabilize.

The pandemic did not have a significant impact on the alcohol business.
 

Browse Full Organic Herbal Medicine Market Report:- https://pharmaresearchconsulting.com/reports/organic-herbal-medicine-market-growth-trends-and-forecast-2029-by-types-horsetail-dandelion-echinacea-valerian-st-john-s-wort-lemon-balm-by-nature-organic-conventional-by-end-use-medicinal-tea-cosmeceuticals-by-regions

Key Market Segments: Organic Herbal Medicine Market

Global Organic Herbal Medicine Market: By Types

  • Cyanocobalamin Injection
  • Cyanocobalamin Oral
  • Organic Herbal Medicine
     

Global Organic Herbal Medicine Market: By Applications

  • By Nature:
  • Organic
  • Conventional
  • By Form:
    • Whole
    • Powder
    • Liquid
  • By End-Use:
    • Medicinal Tea
    • Health Supplement
    • Nutritive Jams
    • Herbal Medicines
    • Cosmeceuticals
    • Other Uses
       

Browse More Information Technology & Telecommunication Market Reports by Pharma Research Consulting

RNAi Medicine Market

https://pharmaresearchconsulting.com/reports/rnai-medicines-market-global-growth-trends-and-forecast-2022-2029-by-types-sirna-mirna-pirna-and-others-by-application-drug-discovery-development-therapeutics-drug-delivery-others-and-by-regions

The RNAi Medicine Market study does a comprehensive analysis of the worldwide industry and offers details on the situation of the market over the envisioned time frame. The study analyses and investigates the main forces, constraints, opportunities, challenges, and trends in the market for RNAi Medicine. A thorough grasp of the strategic analysis of alliances, investments, mergers, and acquisitions is provided by the market research report. It helps the buyer understand the main market forces and constraints, as well as the effects of these factors during the projected period.

Acetylcysteine Market

https://pharmaresearchconsulting.com/reports/acetylcysteine-market

Acetylcysteine, a modified amino acid, also known as N-acetylcysteine (NAC), is used as an antidote to stop liver damage after an acetaminophen overdose. A hepatoprotective drug called acetylcysteine hasn't been associated with clinically evident acute liver damage or significant blood enzyme elevations following treatment. Acetylcysteine is a medication that helps persons with chronic respiratory conditions including pneumonia and bronchitis discharge thick mucus. It is also used to treat acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdoses. Treatment for newborn lactobezoar is possible with it.

Nuclear Medicine & Radiopharmaceuticals Market

https://pharmaresearchconsulting.com/reports/nuclear-medicine-radiopharmaceuticals-market

Radioactive isotopes are a component of a class of drugs used in pharmacology known as "nuclear medicines." They are distinct pharmacological formulations with radioisotope infusions that are employed for diagnosis or treatment in significant clinical settings. Over the past few years, radiopharmaceutical therapy has emerged as one of the most successful therapies in a variety of fields, including neurology, cardiology, cancer, and others.

Sports Medicine Market

https://pharmaresearchconsulting.com/reports/sports-medicine-market

Sports medicine, often known as sports and exercise medicine (SEM), is a field of medicine that focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries caused by participating in sports or other forms of physical activity. Its major objective is to help athletes exercise sensibly and successfully in order to reach their training goals. The global market statistics are projected to be driven by rising government participation in promoting and encouraging sporting activities, as well as rising public awareness of individual health. Sports injuries may occur more frequently as engagement in sports increases.


 Source:  globenewswire.com
31 Aug, 2022 News Image Rice procurement estimated at 518 lakh metric tones during kharif crop of Kharif Marketing Season 2022-23, for Central Pool.
Shri Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution, chaired a meeting of State Food Secretaries and Food Corporation of India (FCI) to discuss the procurement arrangements for Kharif Crop ensuing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2022-23, here today.
 
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary/Secretary (Food) or Representatives of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,  Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. The meeting was also attended by Chairman & Managing Director, FCI & Other officers of FCI, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Indian Metrological Department and Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
 
A quantity of 518 LMT rice has been estimated for procurement during the forthcoming KMS 2022-23 (Kharif Crop) as against 509.82 LMT actually procured during last KMS 2021-22(Kharif crop).
 
During the meeting, issues relating to adoption of mechanized procurement operations, borrowing at lower interest rate, reduction in cost of procurement operations, adoption of innovative techniques & quality control mechanism, promotion of millets, gunny bags requirements, online settlement of food subsidy claims etc. were discussed and it was suggested that such innovations should be incentivized.  
 
Shri Pandey stated that focus should be on procurement of millets, not only on account of International Year of Millet-2023 but also because of climate changes. Climate changes have been adversely affecting wheat and Rice and resulting in reduction in their production. A quantity of 13.70 LMT coarse grains ”super food” has been proposed for procurement by the States during the forthcoming KMS 2022-23 as against actual procurement of 6.30 LMT as on date.
 
Secretary, DFPD, highlighted the problem of shortage of packaging material.  It was stated that arranging packaging material has become a challenging task as only 50% of the requirement of could be arranged through jute mills. To address the problem, DFPD is exploring possibilities of increasing the production/availability of new Jute bags by ways of testing new technology- Smart Jute Bags (SJB). As per report, trials have been found successful and these are at final stage.

 Source:  pib.gov.in
31 Aug, 2022 News Image Shri Piyush Goyal Chairs progress review of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal chaired a meeting to review the progress of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) today in New Delhi.
 
It was apprised that since the alpha launch in 5 cities in April, ONDC has been testing with a closed user group for end to end execution to understand their fulfilment.  ONDC expects the number of network participants to substantially increase to more than 30 in the coming weeks. Building on this, ONDC plans to start beta-testing the network with public users in limited areas.
 
Shri Goyal said that while continuing various network development initiatives, we must keep in mind that the basic purpose of ONDC is to assist the small, undigitized trader, who must be assisted to get digitized and avail opportunities offered by the e-commerce ecosystem.
 
He said that existing e-commerce platforms are popular because they remain consumer focused. They have created robust trust in their platforms based on their ability to deliver on promises made about products, fulfilment of orders in time, no-questions-asked returns policies, and consumer friendly refunds and cancellations. ONDC will be tested against these benchmarks. ONDC must create consumer trust through robust mechanisms for ensuring redressal of grievances of consumers and enforcing transparent policies for returns, refunds and cancellations, he added. These policies are to be implemented at the network level.
 
Minister Goyal directed Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to work with all State Governments to create awareness about the utility of ONDC and devise programs in collaboration with state governments so that small traders, artisans, handicraftsmen, farmers, MSMEs from across the country are able to take full advantage of this open network.
 
Shri Goyal expressed his desire that ONDC must work in active cooperation with traders and industry associations to implement the network at the ground level. Faster scaling up can be achieved with the cooperation of these associations.
 
He desired that ONDC must work with the startup ecosystem to encourage and assist more entrepreneurs from across the country to develop e-commerce apps and assist their local traders, artisans, handicraftsmen, farmers, MSMEs, etc. All government supported Incubators and other institutions and mechanisms working for innovation and entrepreneurship should be leveraged.
 
The meeting was also attended by Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Anil Agrawal, Additional Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman QCI,Shri T Koshy, MD & CEO of ONDC and Shri Arvind Gupta, Founder, My Gov.

 Source:  pib.gov.in
31 Aug, 2022 News Image Food Security is Positively Impacted by Agricultural Diversity: Study.
The researchers discovered that, while agricultural diversity can be beneficial to food security, it is not the only strategy available to promote food security. Diversification can be an appealing and effective option for improving agricultural practises and profits when it is also the cheapest strategy in terms of monetary and labour costs.
 
According to a recently published paper by researchers from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, agricultural diversity can be an important driver of food security, but the magnitude of the contribution is dependent on the local farming system's broader socioeconomic and biophysical characteristics.
 
 
In June 2022, they published their paper, 'The benefits and trade-offs of agricultural diversity for food security in low- and middle-income countries: A review of existing knowledge and evidence,' in the journal Global Food Security. The researchers discovered that agricultural diversity had a positive effect on food security in nearly two-thirds of all cases, but in about one-third of the relationships, there was no effect or the results were mixed.
 
Food security exists when all people have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), whereas agricultural diversity includes the diversity of crop varieties, livestock breeds, fish species, and non-domesticated (wild) resources, including how they are processed.
 
The researchers' literature review revealed work done across the Global South or Lower-Middle-Income (LMIC) countries looking at the link between agricultural diversity and food security, providing a foundation for other researchers in the field to find collaborators or think about future research questions.
 
The lead author of the study, Katharina Waha, a Senior Research Scientist in the Global Food and Nutrition Security group at CSIRO in Brisbane, Australia, stated that there were 40 indices measuring the various measures and individual relationships. 'We looked at all the combinations you could think of and how to quantify measure between the food security and diversity indicators,' Waha explained. 'In terms of negative health outcomes for individuals, all the literature on nutritional and health outcomes would say that not having that diversity or quality is the end result.'
 
The researchers discovered that, while agricultural diversity can be beneficial to food security, it is not the only strategy available to promote food security. Diversification can be an appealing and effective option for improving agricultural practises and profits when it is also the cheapest strategy in terms of monetary and labour costs.
 
Elisabetta Gotor is an Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT principal scientist and agricultural economist. She has 20 years of experience in economic analyses and evaluation of food system solutions at the intersection of agriculture, environment, and nutrition, with research focusing on the relationship between biodiversity-based interventions and poverty reduction, food security and nutrition, sustainable rural livelihoods, and resilience outcomes. According to Gotor, it is critical to investigate the relationship between the two concepts.
 
According to Gotor, it is critical to investigate the relationship between the two concepts. 'I have a number of studies that show a link between agricultural diversity and food security,' Gotor explained. On-farm diversity, according to Gotor, is 'not only the driver, but the foundation of everything.' Gotor stated that on-farm diversity must be preserved, and that the best way to do so is through daily use. 'With a diverse system, you can deal with biotic and abiotic stresses, such as the effects of climate change,' Gotor said, adding that genetic diversity is required to discover new crop varieties.
 
'It's critical to understand how we measure diversity and evaluate the other components of diversity,' Gotor said. According to the researchers, holistic study designs that take into account the natural, social, and economic aspects of agricultural and food systems are best suited to represent interactions and understand the complex effects of diversification.
 
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 Source:  krishijagran.com