AgriSolve OPC: April 2015

Wednesday, 29 April 2015

India Agri & Food updates - 30 April'15 !

1. Rajkot-based agriculture entrepreneur has turned popular social media app WhatsApp into a classifieds marketplace that allows farmers to trade goods such as grains, vegetables, seeds, irrigation equipment and tractors, among others.

2. In a bid to help cash-starved domestic producers, the Union Cabinet raised the import duty on sugar to 40 per cent from 25 per cent on Wednesday. The move will curb imports as sugar prices are depressed, with a fifth consecutive year of surplus output in the offing.

3. Maharashtra Chief Minister has asked for help from former Israeli Prime Minister on helping farmers in Maharashtra who are ending their lives in large numbers due to the agrarian crisis.

4. Parliament's committee on agriculture has urged the government to ensure that support prices for various crops give farmers 50% profit margin and rejected the agriculture ministry's view that such a step will distort the market.

Global Agri, Food & Health Updates - 30April'15 !

1. Drinking fruit in liquid form is trending, but there are many challenges when it comes to processing beverage particles. Pulp damage, ripeness, sugar content, pumps, and heat exchangers; all affect the process and final product.

2. Following successful pilot projects with Kellogg’s, Meadow Vale Foods and food processors ABP, Oxifree anti-corrosion resin has signed an agreement as the official supplier for Kellogg’s UK.

3. CSB-System has partnered with Freshway Foods to monitor its raw materials and ingredients throughout the process chain, to control costs, increase efficiencies, maintain quality and provide full traceability.

4. Cargill has been fined £600,000 following the death of a lorry driver who was buried under a mound of soya meal.

6. The world is getting fatter and bringing with it a host of health problems that are bursting public healthcare purse strings. FoodNavigator & NutraIngredients gets to the guts of an issue where real food innovation can offer so much.

7. A pioneering salt reduction scheme was derailed by the UK government leading to 6000 preventable deaths, says Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH).

8. Food safety legislation and standards in both the US and the European Union are now becoming blueprints for similar regulations in emerging markets, such as China, both to improve safety for local consumers and to facilitate exports to Europe and North America.

9. The Western European packaged food market has grown 5% since 2009, with chilled pasta, sustainable foods and frozen yoghurt leading the way, according to Euromonitor International – but Europe is still a divided market.

10. India’s food minister believes the country would be a global food processing powerhouse were it not for its troubled supply chain.

India Agri & Food updates - 29April'15 !

1. As per latest Govt. estimates, Sugarcane farmer arrears to touch Rs 21,000 Crore.

2. Government's wheat procurement this year may fall short of the initial target of 30 million tonnes (MT) due to crop damage following a recent spell of unseasonal rains and hailstorms.

3. Rains and hailstorm affected 189 lakh hectares of crop area in the country, Agriculture Minister today said in Rajya Sabha, revising his earlier figure of 94 lakh hectares.

4. Overall production in the country based on the estimation of production in major coconut growing states showed a 10% fall in 2014-15 over the previous year.

5. The CDB (Coconut Development Board) survey on production registered a decline in production in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka while the Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal and Maharashtra recorded an increase. The four southern states together comprise around 90% of the coconut production in the country.

6. Government today decided to raise import duty on sugar to 40 per cent, from 25 per cent, and remove excise duty on ethanol to help mills clear dues.

7. The government today did away with restrictions on imports of industrial and technical grade urea, a move aimed at improving ease of doing business in the country and checking diversion of urea.

y with restrictions on imports of industrial and technical grade urea, a move aimed at improving ease of doing business in the country and checking diversion of urea.

The CDB survey on production registered a decline in production in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka while the Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal and Maharashtra recorded an increase. The four southern states together comprise around 90% of the coconut production in the country

Overall production in the country based on the estimation of production in major coconut growing states showed a 10% fall in 2014-15 over the previous year.

Rains and hailstorm affected 189 lakh hectares of crop area in the country, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said in Rajya Sabha, revising his earlier figure of 94 lakh hectares.

Government's wheat procurement this year may fall short of the initial target of 30 million tonnes (MT) due to crop damage following a recent spell of unseasonal rains and hailstorms.

Global Agri, Food & Health Updates - 29April'15 !

1. PROCESS EXPO, North America’s largest trade show fully focused on food and beverage processing and packaging, will be held September 15-18, 2015, McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois.

2. Chemically modified carbon nanotubes to detect biogenic amines from decaying meat have been created by chemists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

3. Agilent Technologies has launched a quadrupole-time of flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometry system for applications including food safety and pharmaceuticals.

4. Food is more important than celebrities and fashion for younger consumers, but the sector has yet to take advantage of its growing audience, new research has claimed.

5. Awareness should be increased about listeriosis from RTE foods in risk groups, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

6. Eye Vision Technology (EVT) has launched Egg Counter, an EyeVision software to separate and count eggs on a production line.

7. Organic crops generally have lower yields than conventional crops – but that’s not the only way to measure their potential to feed the world.

8. The Western European packaged food market has grown 5% since 2009, with chilled pasta, sustainable foods and frozen yoghurt leading the way, according to Euromonitor International – but Europe is still a divided market.

9. The use of certain biotechnologies could support organic production in the future – although the currently approved ‘cross-species’ GM technologies are the biggest threat to the organic food system.

10. As per a renowed US economist and social theorist, Europe needs to talk about moving down the food chain to feed people more efficiently and beat climate change.

11. US retail sales of Matcha green tea powder surged 54.9%* in 2014, while sales of ready-to-drink products leaped up $253.1% (albeit from a small base), reveals a new report arguing that the bright green, nutrient-packed tea is “not a passing fad, but a major trend with long term viability

12. Over 32,000 people have signed a petition to remove Protein World’s weight loss pill advertisements asking: ‘Are you beach body ready?

13. Rising temperatures could seriously change where cocoa is grown in the next half-century and global output could be threatened if the chocolate industry does nothing to protect its key crop.

14. More than a third of Russians (37%) have noticed that some of their favourite brands are missing from store shelves following food sanctions – compared to about a quarter (26%) six months ago, according to market research organisation Romir.

15. The Blue Sky Strategic Australian Agriculture Fund will invest $300m across agriculture infrastructure, agribusiness private equity and water entitlements offering an IRR of 12%-15%, targeting the A$1.9 trillion local superannuation industry.

Monday, 27 April 2015

India Agri & Food Updates - 28 April'15 !

1. After 10 years of market restrictions, apples from Argentina are on their way to India. The first shipment marks a heady start to a $200-million market for Argentina.

2. Government today acknowledged in Rajya Sabha that there are problems in effective implementation of Crop Insurance Scheme and warned of cancelling the licences of companies if such a request is received from any state government.

3. The Unified National Agriculture Market (UNAM), proposed by Finance Ministry in the Union Budget for 2015-16, may take time to evolve nationally, but Karnataka is already leading this silent movement with the online integration of many APMCs in the southern state.

4. Spot pepper prices on Monday ruled steady on matching demand and supply. However, the active contracts on the IPSTA platform moved up so as to stay at par with the spot prices.

5. StarAgri Warehousing and Collateral Management, an Indian post-harvest management company, is launching StarAgri Finance to complement its existing services for farmers and agribusinesses.

6. Agriculture experts in both the private and government sectors must be incentivised to help train local Indian farmers to use new technologies and increase production accroding to Origo Commodities India, a post-harvest management company.

Global Agri, Food & Health Updates - 28April'15 !

1. The agriculture technology sector raised over $1bn in Q1 2015, nearly half of the $2.36bn raised during 2014, according to a recent report from fundraising platform AgFunder. Key sectors were bioenergy, decision support technologies, and drones and robotics.

2. Anacail has raised £2m to continue development of its ozone technology for the food processing industry.

3. Europe’s largest frozen foods business Iglo Group has been bought by a pair of US investors for €2.6bn, at 2.4 times return on the original investment made by parent company Permira.

4. According to Euromonitor International, fortified or functional food and drink sales jumped by 25% between 2008 and 2013 to reach $267.6bn (€249bn).

5. Police in the UK have warned against buying diet pills containing the toxic fat-burner DNP following the death of a 21-year-old woman.

6. European Project, TRADEIT, hosted a Food Packaging Brokerage event during Hispack 2015 and BTA, (Barcelona Tecnologias de la Alimentacion), food technology fair, in Barcelona last week (April 23-24).

7. Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Wentus has developed two barrier films WSL 343040 and WSL 143031, for dry food products that it claims stops the migration of mineral oils from the outer packaging into food.

8. Italy’s confectionery major Ferrero has purchased almost 700 hectares of fertile agricultural land controlled by Serbian agricultural company Aleksa Santic for €7.95m ($8.64m).

9. Agilent Technologies has launched a quadrupole-time of flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometry system for applications including food safety and pharmaceuticals.

10. On the occassion of 45th Earth Day, USDA is announcing over $112 million in loans and grants to rural communities across the country for better water and wastewater systems.

11. The standing committee of China’s National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature, has voted to adopt an amendment to the food safety law that proscribes the heaviest penalties yet to offenders.

Sunday, 26 April 2015

India Agri & Food updates - 27April'15 !

1. Private forecaster Skymet has stuck to its earlier forecast of a normal monsoon this year, unruffled by the weather office's prediction that rainfall in the crucial June-September period would be below par.

2. Already bearing the brunt of freak weather and heaps of wheat lying in mandis, farmers are also being forced to sell their crop below MSP rate of Rs 1,450 a quintal.

3. NMCE launches auction-based forward trading in rubber.

4. Hyderabad-headquartered International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and an Ethiopian institute will jointly work towards new approaches in the field of agricultural research and development in the drylands of the African country of Ethiopia.

5. Poor output of mangosteen fruit in 2015 due to erroneous weather and a bumper crop last year is likely to push up its prices in the domestic market this year.

6. Production of pearl millets has improved significantly over the years despite a 22 per cent decline in area, noted Food and Fodder Crop, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, hailing the private sector seed companies for their effort.

7. Funds inadequate for agricultural research as per TamilNadu Agriculture University VC.

Global Agri & Food Updates - 27April'15 !

1. The organic industry must overcome substantial hurdles to sustain its double digit sales growth, including the threat posed by genetically modified organisms, limited technological advancements and a dwindling farming population.

2. Four out of 10 consumers claim to be avoiding or reducing genetically modified foods in their daily diets, mainly because they are concerned about the possible impact of GMOs on their health and well-being, according to The Hartman Group’s Organic & Natural 2014 report.

3. An editorial in an academic journal has reignited the debate over the extent to which a poor diet – and the marketing tactics employed by the food industry – is responsible for America’s obesity epidemic.

4. Sharp increases in imported organic soy beans and corn to the U.S. in 2014 to feed the expanding organic dairy, poultry and livestock sectors is a “‘help wanted’ message for American farmers,” according to the Organic Trade Association.

5. Claims that much of the extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) sold in US supermarket is not ‘extra virgin’ at all are hardly new. But the fact that many retail buyers are effectively turning a blind eye to such widespread fraud is immensely frustrating for companies that are playing by the rules, says one industry expert.

6. FAO urges sustainability over immediate profits to safeguard water supplies.Water is likely to be sufficient for food production in 2050 – but increased competition means two-thirds of the world will be affected by water scarcity, according to a joint report from the FAO and the World Water Council.

7. The mid-Atlantic natural grocery chain MOM’s Organic Market claims that it dramatically cut operational costs, drove increased food traffic and reinforced its branding by incorporating sustainability into every aspect of its business.

8. Letters of support to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its recent work on food marketing to children may be used as a basis of dialogue between European governments and the food industry, the WHO has said.

9. The use of certain biotechnologies could support organic production in the future – although the currently approved ‘cross-species’ GM technologies are the biggest threat to the organic food system.

Thursday, 23 April 2015

India Agri & Food Updates - 24April'2015 !

1. Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) will no longer build a Rs. 500 crore ($80m) bottling plant in Tamil Nadu, India citing ‘inordinate delays’ in the government system, but activists from the India Resource Centre (IRC) have claimed victory for a campaign on water shortage fears.

2. With drought in Kenya likely to drag tea the African nation's output from a record 444.8 million kilogram (mkg) last year, tea exporters in India – the world’s fourth-largest exporter – are looking forward to a better fiscal despite the Centre’s decision to reduce export incentives under the new Foreign Trade Policy.

3. The cooperative body IFFCO, will pay up to Rs 25,000 per farmer (total of Rs.10 Crore) within the next three months, depending on the damages.

4. Increased export enquiries for virgin coconut oil, especially from the US and Canada, have revived some hopes among the coconut oil traders.Sources in the market said that a leading company has recently received an export order for 30,000 tonnes from Canada.

5. Indian farmers may have to shell out more for potash price this year following pressure from global sellers. This could add to their worries as they already face prospects of a below normal monsoon.After securing a price increase of $10 per tonne (or around 3 per cent) from Chinese customers this year, exporters from Canada and Russia are insisting that Indian buyers take a similar price increase.

Global Agri & Food Updates - 24April'15 !

1. Supermarket price war continues to “devastate” small-scale food and drink suppliers, as they fight a David and Goliath style battle with the big retailers, warns business recovery specialists.

2. Japanese consumers are eating more dark chocolate at the expense of milk varieties as interest grows in cocoa polyphenols, says leading domestic chocolatier Meiji.

3. Water is likely to be sufficient for food production in 2050 – but increased competition means two-thirds of the world will be affected by water scarcity, according to a joint report from the FAO and the World Water Council.

4. There are plenty of billion-dollar brands in the CPG market, but just 8% of 213 ‘legacy’ US food and beverage brands analyzed by market researcher Hartman Group are outpacing inflation and category growth rates.

5. A lack of knowledge about food industry careers, misconceptions about manufacturing and a dip in apprenticeships are the three barriers blocking women from starting careers in the food and drink manufacturing sector.

6. France may be notorious for its leisurely lunch breaks but less structured ways of eating are taking root, with a third of consumers saying they often eat on the run, according to an Ipsos poll.

7. Anacail has raised £2m to continue development of its ozone technology for the food processing industry.

8. The global nutraceutical market was estimated to be $140.1 billion US dollars in 2010.

9. Sainsbury will cut 800 jobs in a store-management restructure to save £500M over the next three years.

10. USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced three grants designed to boost food security by minimizing livestock losses to insects and diseases. The awards to support research, education, and Extension efforts were made through NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), which is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

11. An official report has predicted that China will develop its own "rice bowl” to remain close to self sufficiency in the main crops at a time of great food uncertainty around the world.

India Agri & Food updates - 23 April'2015 !

1. In a bid to raise paddy productivity, Odisha government has stressed on chemical treatment of the seeds prior to sowing and introduction of drought-resistant and flood-prone varieties in calamity-prone districts.

2. Delhi fields shrink amid realty boom and water crisis.

3. The government today assured farmers that all necessary steps would be taken to mitigate the impact of any shortfall in rains attributing to poor monsoon.

4. An informal group of ministers headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss gas supply to three naphtha-based urea units - SPIC Tuticorin, MFL Manali and MCFL Mangalore.Besides, the urea policy and nutrient-based subsidy for Phosphatic and Potassic fertilisers will also be on the table.

5. Puducherry government restores free rice (10kg single boiled rice) and wheat (5kg) under PDS.

6. NABARD projects Rs 2,205 crore credit outlay for Meghalaya.

7. Traders like Cargill, ITC worried over slow arrival, poor quality of wheat.Unseasonal rains have taken away the sheen of the grains, reducing their shelf life.

8. With Govt relaxing the rules, any trader or entity can export sugar to the European Union and the US under the tariff rate quota (TRQ).

9. Indian farmers may have to shell out more for potash price this year following pressure from global sellers. This could add to their worries as they already face prospects of a below normal monsoon.

Global Agri & Food Updates - 23April'15 !

1. The $105bn Washington State Investment Board has approved at $300m commitment to the row- and permanent-crop farmland management company, taking the pension's Agri exposure to $1.1bn.

2. UK industry – including food manufacture – is in a “state of stagnation” as suppliers cut investment and impose recruitment bans and pay freezes until May’s general election, experts have claimed.

3. Dietary supplements with garlic (Allium sativum) may beneficially affect blood pressure for hypertensives, says a meta-analysis of 7 randomized controlled trials.

4. Waters made using sap from birch and maple trees will be big business, following the meteoric rise in sales of coconut water in the past five years, a leading analyst has predicted.

5. USDA to announce a comprehensive national strategy to partner with farmers, ranchers and forest land owners to address the threat of climate change. The new initiative, entitled “Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry”, will utilize voluntary, incentive-based conservation, forestry, and energy programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration and expand renewable energy production in the agricultural and forestry sectors.

6. Sharp increases in imported organic soy beans and corn to the U.S. in 2014 to feed the expanding organic dairy, poultry and livestock sectors is a “‘help wanted’ message for American farmers.

7. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially added Greek yogurt to the list of items available through the National School Lunch Program.

8. FDA is considering adding pre- and post-market enforcement “enhancements” to the final rule for the process of determining food substances are GRAS – or generally recognized as safe.

9. A European Commission review on genetically modified (GM) products could deliver regulations that allow individual countries to ban or authorise consumption of GMOs in food or feed. But concerns about the regulation have been raised by both pro-GM and anti-GM camps.

10. UK retail giant Tesco has reported a staggering annual loss of £6.4 billion (€8.9bn), the worst in its 96-year history.

11. Nearly seven in ten CEOs worldwide see the value of sustainability but only two out of ten (21%) companies are leveraging the full potential of sustainability practices, says a report.

12. The presence of a cancer-causing dye, Sudan IV, in palm oil products sold at a London cash and carry has prompted the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to issue a recall notice.

13. Lebanese farmers are facing financial disaster following the closure of the main land route to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, after Syrian rebels seized the Nasib border crossing with Jordan.

Tuesday, 21 April 2015

India Agri & Food updates - 22April'15 !

1. Eastern Group, the leading spice business conglomerate, has recently partnered with the ₹125-crore CapAleph Indian Millennium Fund to support entrepreneurship in the food and agriculture space.

2. Potato farmers in Gujarat are a worried lot. With harvest being bumper and unseasonal rains affecting the quality, potato prices have come down to one-third of what it was last year i.e. ₹300-425 a quintal.

3. UP, Maharashtra, Haryana seek over ₹10,100 cr from the National Disaster Response Fund for farmers hit by unseasonal rains & hailstorms.

4. After unseasonal showers and hailstorms through most of March and early April, consumers are likely to feel the pinch when buying mangoes this summer, with prices of the fruit up by as much as 65 per cent after losses of up to 50 per cent were recorded in key growing States.

5. With the bird flu threat causing heavy losses in the last few days, the poultry industry in Telangana has begun a fire-fighting exercise, saying the virus has been curtailed in the State, downplaying the impact.

6. The Centre for Plant Protection Studies at the Farm Varsity in Tamil Nadu has cautioned rice farmers about the possible outbreak of pests and diseases due to abnormal weather and rains in different parts of the state.

7. Rajasthan government to bear cost of damaged foodgrains. The state government would pay Rs 7.25 per quintal for partial damaged or half-cut pieces of wheat grains assessed.

Global Agri, Food & Helath updates - 22April'2015 !

1. Progress has been made but controls on the production and storage of food of animal origin remain weak in Romania, according to the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO).

2. Cocoa processing has dropped in North America and Europe in the first quarter of 2015, but a futures analyst says chocolate demand remains steady.

3. Kellogg will run the voluntary health star rating system across its entire cereal range in Australia and New Zealand by the end of 2015, kick-starting with 26 products in June.

4. Europe’s largest frozen foods business Iglo Group has been bought by US investor Nomad Holdings for €2.6bn, at 2.4 times return on the original investment made by parent company Permira.

5. More sustainable production is needed to ensure food and nutrition for future generations, but sustainability faces hidden threats all of which are linked to overconsumption of resources, claims the Worldwatch Institute.

Growing dependence on imported food, Agricultural Losses, Problems of Energy availability, Increasingly degraded oceans, pursuit of never ending economic growth, migration as a climate adoption strategy, disputes over Arctic ownership and emerging diseases originating in animals are the specific reasons cited.

6. Police in the UK have warned against buying diet pills containing the toxic fat-burner DNP following the death of a 21-year-old woman.

7. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) plans to invest up to US$18m in a subsidiary of Al Safi Danone to reduce Iraq's reliance on dairy imports.

8. Blue Bell Ice Cream is recalling all products made at all facilities because they could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

9. The Chinese pig sector’s demand for feed will remain under pressure for the remainder of the year but is expected to be higher in early 2016, said Rabobank.

10. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said plans to destroy up to 11 million olive trees in southern Italy lack sufficient research, after NGO Peacelink challenged the proposal.

Monday, 20 April 2015

India Agri & Food updates - 21April'15 !

1. India Farmers are not only cashing in on neera, the nutritious non-alcoholic drink tapped from coconut palms, but also turning their attention to its by-products such as sugar and honey, which are in good demand, particularly in Europe.

2. For agriculture development, Rajasthan to provide 5% subsidy to farmers on long-term cooperative loans.

3. Wheat procurement has almost "halted" in grain markets of Punjab due to strikes by transporters and labourers.

4. Providing relief to farmers affected by recent heavy rains and hailstorm, the Centre today further relaxed quality norms for the procurement of wheat in Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

5. Depreciating currencies in Russia, Europe and with a reduction in export incentive - to 3 per cent from 5 per cent - in the new foreign trade policy have landed Indian tea planters in a major problem. Overseas buyers are asking for good quality tea at a much lower price.

6. Indian Exporters are hopeful of resumption of rapeseed meal shipments to China over the next few months.

Global Agri, Food & Health updates - 21April'15 !

1. The Australian bank's Pastoral Fund management team is set to relocate to Orange from Sydney to be closer to its assets and as part of an expansion in its operations.

2. Audits are a time consuming, yet an imperative part of food production. 75% of the audits done by auditing bodies encounter a non-conformance issue with CCP metal detectors.

3. PROCESS EXPO, North America’s largest trade show fully focused on food and beverage processing and packaging, will be held September 15-18, 2015, McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois.

4. Global and EU regulation aims to stop companies using indigenous bio knowledge and material to make profits without filtering any of the benefits back.

5. Major food retailers in U.S. missed a £5.2M sales opportunity this year because of poor Easter egg availability, according to market intelligence firm IRI.

6. Chemically modified carbon nanotubes to detect biogenic amines from decaying meat have been created by chemists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

7. ‘Prolific’ flavor innovation, fortification and packaging adaptations from local brands has bolstered sales of hot cereal in Germany over the past few years, says a Mintel analyst.

8. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said plans to destroy up to 11 million olive trees in southern Italy lack sufficient research, after NGO Peacelink challenged the proposal.

9. Progress has been made but controls on the production and storage of food of animal origin remain weak in Romania, according to the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO).

Sunday, 19 April 2015

India Agri & Food updates - 20April'15 !

1. Large quantities of oxytocin injections in plastic bottles and other veterinary drugs were seized after raids on Ghazipur dairies in Delhi.

2. A sneak peek into what international weather models deduce from evolving weather and extrapolate to the Indian monsoon suggests largely indifferent rain for crucial geographies.

The models taken into consideration were that of European Centre for Medium Weather Forecasts (ECMWF); the UK Met Office (UKMO); International Research Centre for Climate and Society at Columbia University (IRI); and the APEC Climate Centre (APCC) at Busan, South Korea.

3. The timely arrival of pre-monsoon showers in the coffee growing regions has brought cheers to the planters even as lakhs of growers across the country have been affected by unseasonal showers.

4. The all India weighted average rainfall between March 1 and April 15 was 96.6mm, more than double the normal of 47.8mm.

5. Maharashtra government sets up 12 member task force on agriculture development.

6. Unseasonal rains this Indian summer, cast a shadow and hits on Coca-Cola, PepsiCo sales.

7. Food apps like FoodFood, Faaso’s, iTiffin, Hipcask help people make the right food & drink choices.

8. REIL has signed an agreement with Bulgarian firm Milkotronic Ltd for transfer of technology for manufacturing of milk analyzers in India.

9. Devyani Food Industries will invest Rs 275 crore in three years on capacity enhancement and retail expansion of its ice cream brand 'Cream Bell', which is among the top five ice cream producers of the country with a 70% presence and 15 per cent market share.

Global Agri, Food & Health updates - 20 April'15 !

1. With 2015 being observed as International Year of Soils, the #soils4life Instagram contest is scheduled from 2 April until 17 May (1st stage) and 25 May (2nd stage).

2. WTO and FAO announce enhanced co-operation on trade and food security.

3. The mid-Atlantic natural grocery chain MOM’s Organic Market dramatically cut operational costs, drove increased food traffic and reinforced its branding by incorporating sustainability into every aspect of its business.

4. Dr Pepper Snapple Group has invested $15m in a minority stake in Bai Brands, which has generated explosive growth in multiple retail channels with its 'antioxidant infusion' low-calorie Bai5 beverages.

5. Top 10 challanger brands in U.S.Food retail are Health Warrior & Justins's (Chia Bars), Suja Juice (Cold Pressed), EPIC Bar (Meat snack), Noosa Yoghurt (Aussie style), Califia Farms (healthy beverages), Justins (nut butters, confectionery), Theo Chocolate (Organic), EVOL foods (frozen meals, snacks), Fairlife (lactose free high protien milk), Vega (Protien powders, shakes, bars).

6. Top performing Legacy brands selling $1Billion or more in U.S. Retails are Velveeta, Little Debbie, Jack Link's, Entenmann's, Oreo, Jimmy Dean, Doritos, Tyson, Fritos, Haagen-Dazs, Coffee-mate, M&M's, Lays, Poland Spring, Lipton, Oscar Mayer, Land O'Lakes.

7. Finnish dairy Valio - hit heavily by the Russian ban on Western goods - plans to reduce its workforce by up to 320 to cut costs to “correspond to the current operating environment."

8. The Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) has found ‘significant deficiencies’ in Russian controls for export of dairy products and casings to the European Union (EU).

Friday, 17 April 2015

India Agri & Food Updates - 18 April'15 !

1. Amid growing fears of the El Nino weather phenomenon occurring this year, agriculture ministry has said that the government has identified 100 districts in the country to help farmers who are grappling with extreme weather conditions such as drought and declining water table.

2. With slaughter of bulls and bullocks being banned, a section of dairy farmers in Maharashtra have mooted the idea of giving milch animals ID tags on the lines of 'Aadhar' cards to track their history, breeding cycle and economics of milk production.

3. Leading Agriculture challenges - Fragmented land holdings that make farms inefficient, poor irrigation (only one-third of our farmland is irrigated), corrupt compensation and insurance mechanisms, non-availability of cheap capital, inadequate storage facilities, stranglehold of middlemen, lack of modern technology and poor agricultural marketing to name a few.

4. Government agencies led by Food Corporation of India and state entities have procured about 26.63 lakh tonnes of wheat till date from major producing states in the current 2015-16 marketing season.

5. Agriculture ministry said Sugar exports should be encouraged and sugar import duty increased by 40% so that we can stop the imports, to help overcome the huge loans.

Thursday, 16 April 2015

Global Agri, Food & Health updates - 17April'15 !

1. An outbreak of E.coli O157 which has sickened 12 people has a possible link to leafy greens, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

2. ver the past six years, USDA's international food aid programs benefited approximately 48.3 million individuals globally, with assistance valued at nearly $2.2 billion.

3.The percentage of food and drink launches carrying digestive health claims has fallen from 2.4% in 2009 to 2.2% in 2014 in the EU, says Innova Market Insights.

4. Major food retailers missed a £5.2M sales opportunity this year because of poor Easter egg availability, according to market intelligence firm IRI.

5. Nestlé could net up to €300m from the sale of Davigel, as the world’s biggest food company continues to refocus its business activities in to higher value areas.

6. According to Ernst & Young, a Range of institutional investors express interest in Australia's largest private landowner Kidman & Co sale for $300m, which covers 100,000 square kilometres and was held as a whole business by the family since 1899.

India Agri & Food updates - 17April'15 !

1. Worried about huge cane arrears of Rs 20,000 crore to farmers, the Centre today asked sugar-producing states, to take all possible measures to facilitate payment of dues.

2. Heavy rain is forecast to continue over Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala on Friday even as observations suggested that north-east India has slipped under the ‘Kalbaisakhi’ (seasonal thundershower) season.

3. A new scheme for interest subvention for farmers is being worked out though it may take some time, the RBI said in a notification. Meanwhile, the earlier scheme will continue till June 30 “as an interim measure” .

4. Due to untimely rains in A.P, around 10,730 Hectares of Agriculture & Garden crops are estimated to have been affected. Kurnool district seems tops the list with 2050 Hectares affected the most. Chilli (2002Ha) and Mango(1287 Ha) crops had the maximum impact.

5. With fears still looming in the minds of farmers, the land acquisition activity for A.P capital city building is slowing down. Failure in commitment to the Crop Loan waivers to the extent promised, seems to be the prime reason.

6. AGRICULTUREINFORMATION.COM, has been India's premier agriculture website in existence for 15 years, with 200,000+ buyers, sellers and experts in Indian Agriculture.

India Agri & Food Updates - 16April'15 !

1. The ₹400-crore Keventer Agro – flagship of the Kolkata-based MK Jalan-controlled ₹2,000-crore Keventer Group – is aiming for a national roll out of popular ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ banana variety, also referred as Grand Nain (G-9) variety, in a phased manner.

2. Vegetable oil imports were up 27 per cent at 11 lakh tonnes in March compared to 8 lakh tonnes (lt) in the same period last year due to higher demand and lower crushing by domestic mills.

3. According to information available on the APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) website, India imported 14,571.90 tonnes of fresh pears in 2013-14, valued at around ₹78.93 crore. There were no imports in 2012-13, nor in 2011-12.

4. Surplus of sugar in both domestic and international markets will continue to keep sugar prices under pressure in the near term, a report by ratings agency ICRA says.

5. Sugar industry in India is going through an unprecedented crisis as sugarcane prices mount year on year, driven by populist State governments, and sugar prices drop on surplus production, according to the Indian Sugar Mills Association.

6. According to the Japanese brokerage firm Nomura, the possibility of El Nino conditions is developing this year and this could possibly push food inflation temporarily higher.

7. Untimely rains cool temperature, hit mango supply; farmers face losses.

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Glogbla Agri, Food & Health Updates - 16April'15 !

1. Explosive growth in the food and drink ingredients sector will boost its overall value to €59bn by 2018.

2. Futurology can play a key role in helping food and drink manufacturers make wise investments in new product development, according to futurologist Morgaine Gaye.

3. The European Commission will consider action on industrially produced trans fats in foods following a high-level debate.

4. Making small, consistent changes to the types of protein- and carbohydrate-rich foods we eat may have a big impact on long-term weight, say researchers behind a new large-scale diet study.

5. Investing in 3D printing could open new markets and generate huge cost savings for food manufacturers and retailers, but first companies must overcome potential regulatory and legal hurdles, many of which are not yet identified.

6. Organic industry continues to show remarkable growth domestically and globally, with 19,474 certified organic operations in the United States and a total of 27,814 certified organic operations around the world.

7. Over the past six years, USDA's international food aid programs benefited approximately 48.3 million individuals globally, with assistance valued at nearly $2.2 billion.

Tuesday, 14 April 2015

India Agri & Food Updates - 15April'15 !

1. With Blanket approval for pre-shipment processes for mangoes, grapes, litchis and other farm products, Fruit exports from India to the US set to get smoother.

2. El Nino affects the Gangetic plain from Bihar to west Uttar Pradesh badly, finds study.

3. The recent devastation of crops shows that the Indian economy continues to be a ‘gamble’ on the rain.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has improved its forecasting capabilities, evident y by the near-accurate landfall predictions the agency made during tropical cyclones such as ‘Phailin'.

4.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has improved its forecasting capabilities, evident y by the near-accurate landfall predictions the agency made during tropical cyclones such as ‘Phailin'.

5. For centuries traditional ways of predicting the native way have yielded results i.e. Panchangs in India, Change in Behavioral Patterns of Plants & Animals in Australia are some examples.

6. The Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) is exploring the possibility of utilising warehousing facilities at the Mangalore port to store the cotton imported from West Africa.

7. The Centre relaxes quality norms and rules for wheat procurement in Haryana.

Global Agri, Food & Health Updates - 15April'15 !

1. Technology used in the food industry to measure the antioxidant properties of edible plants, tea and wine could be adapted to monitor the oxidative stress of critically ill patients in intensive care.

2. The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) has denied claims of corruption and widespread export of palm oil from illegally deforested land.

3. Less than half of all packaged foods available in New Zealand and Australia in 2012 met nutritional criteria to carry health claims, according to recently published research from the University of Auckland.

4. Krill oil may have better bioavailability of the essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA compared to fish oil, but variations are not because of differences between phospholipids and triglycerides, say researchers.

5. Through partnerships with small farmers, non-governmental organizations and other industry stakeholders, General Mills reports it is making progress towards its goal of sustainably sourcing 100% of its top 10 ingredients by 2020.

6. US sales of specialty foods blasted through the $100bn barrier in 2014, with retail ($85.5bn) and foodservice sales ($24bn) combined hitting $109.5bn, up 10.3% on 2013 sales of $99.3bn.

India Agri & Food Updates - 14April'15 !

1. Following the footsteps of EU, US moves a step closure to lift ban on Indian fruits (mangoes, grapes, pomegranates and lychees).

2. With sugarcane arrears to farmers touching Rs 19,243 cr, farmer leaders want governments to show strong political will to ensure export subsidy on white sugar.

3. Skymet expects a few dry patches in parts of northwest, central and south India but on the whole it is optimistic of normal rain this year.

4. Indian onions are in big demand in Pakistan where the crop is not only all that good but is also 15% more expensive. Back home, onion prices have dropped by 5% over the fortnight, selling at .`7-12 a kg in some wholesale markets.

5. Around 19 per cent farmers have insured their crops in India, while the rest 81% are exposed to the vagaries of weather which leads them to take desperate steps, according to a study done jointly by Assocham and Skymet Weather.

6. Unseasonal rains and hailstorm damaged standing Rabi crops in nearly 50,000 hectares of crops in Vidarbha.

7. The South-West monsoon is expected to set in at least a week ahead of schedule this year, according to India Met Department (IMD).

8. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is developing nutrient-rich varieties of rice in its efforts towards nutritional security.

Global Agri, Food & Health Updates - 14April'15 !

1. The New Zealand dairy fund has closed on $300m after getting commitments from 100% institutional investors including Swedish pension fund AP Fonden 1.

2. Farmland and agribusiness investment manager Teays River is set for $500m of new commitments, after MainePERS approved a $200m commitment and Washington State Investment Board votes on a further $300m.

3. Abraaj collects almost $1bn for sub-Saharan Africa.

4. Cargill Meat Solutions is recalling almost 8,300 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with blue string, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS).

5. The nuts and spices contamination scandal is continuing to affect companies across Europe. France, Belgium, UK and Denmark recalled for products contaminated.

6. Salt and fat content in processed foods could be reduced by altering food pore size - without affecting the taste, say scientists.

7. A new research report has said that artificial sweeteners may not help reduce obesity in children – a claim that the industry has dismissed.

8. Resource efficiency and sustainability were the underlying themes at Anuga FoodTec 2015, in Cologne, Germany.

9. Funding totalling almost $19m has been awarded in the form of 36 food safety grants by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

10. Contaminated food accounts for 14% of norovirus disease burden, according to a study.

Saturday, 11 April 2015

India Agriculture Websites !

To get crisp & brief information on Indian Agriculture and/or extensive data on Crop Marketing, please check the below websites.

1. www.kisan.net
2. www.mahindrakisanmitra.com
3. www.krishiworld.com
4. www.agroindia.org
5. www.agricoop.nic.in
6. www.apeda.com
7. www.fert.nic.in
8. www.agmarketnet.nic
9. www.mofpi.nic.in
10. www.seednet.gov.in
11. www.indiaagrisat.com
12. www.isapinia.org
13. www.indiaagriline.com
14. www.agrisolve.in
15. www.indiaagronet.com
16. www.agriwatch.com
17. www.carrittmoran.com
18. www.dacnet.nic.in
19. www.nafed-india.com
20. www.agroecommerce.com
21. www.nddb.org
22. www.itcibd.com
23. www.digitalmandi.net
24. www.nmce.com
25. www.ncdex.com
26. www.mcxindia.com
27. www.ikisian.com
28. www.indiacommodity.com
29. www.uttamkrishi.com
30. www.kisanayog.org

India Agri & Food Updates - 11April'15 !

1. The government asked states to keep 10% of state disaster response ( SDRF) fund reserved for 'local disasters' such as heavy rain, which are to be declared at par with national disasters, and use this money to provide quick relief to distressed farmers.

2. Unseasonal rains and hailstorms are likely to result in insurance claims to the tune of Rs 100 crore for crop losses as per Agriculture Insurance Company (AIC).

3. Seeking collaboration in areas including cold chain and warehousing, India today asked Australia to increase imports of agricultural produce such as chickpeas, grapes, groundnuts and lentils.

4. Government Agencies bought 3.89 lakh tonne paddy worth Rs 425 crore in kharif season.

5. With prevailing low sugar prices, Sugarcane arrears crosses Rs 19,000 crore; Centre calls meeting of CMs.

6. Global black tea output down 5.21%, due to adverse weather slowing the harvest in many producing zones.

Global Agri & Food Updates - 11April'15 !

1. The Hungarian and Kazakhstan governments have created a $40 million development fund to promote investment into agriculture and food processing companies in Kazakhstan

2. Indian venture capital firm Omnivore has invested $1m into Ecozen Solutions, a campus start-up from a tech institute, which is working on using solar power in the Agri supply chain.

3. Egg whites in plastic can be used as alternative for petroleum-based food packaging, according to researchers at the University of Georgia, in the US.

4. A sharp drop in sugar prices is the main factor behind a fall in overall global food prices, says the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

5. Machu Picchu Foods (MPF), a Peruvian cocoa processor/exporter and chocolate manufacturer, recently expanded its product portfolio with ice cream wafer cones following the purchase of wafer company Montecorvino from Callao.

6. CSB-System is offering bespoke software to help optimize efficiency and traceability in bakery production amid market pressure for speed, quality and reliability.

7. The impending marriage of Heinz and Kraft Foods Group will create a $29bn consumer packaged goods powerhouse.

8. Ready-to-eat popcorn sales surged 60% to $750m between 2012 and 2014, while microwave popcorn sales dropped 8% to $830m.

9. New Zealand’s antitrust watchdog has authorised members of the Infant Nutrition Council to continue to follow a code of practice that restricts the advertising and marketing of infant formula for children under six months of age.

10. Almost 10% of breast milk samples bought online by a team of US researchers contained bovine DNA.

11. Eating four eggs a week could lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in men, a study has claimed.

12. Mondelēz could pump a further £80M into its Banbury instant coffee production facility, creating up to 160 new jobs, if an existing £40M investment in two Tassimo lines yields good results.

13. The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) has seen a 9% rise in plastic packaging recycling in 2013 compared to 2012, collecting over 311 million kg of post-consumer packaging.

14. Cargill’s drones to begin testing in Malaysian oil palm plantations.

15. An Australian study has found evidence that women can help their babies develop strong post-natal immunity by taking fish oil capsules during pregnancy.

Tuesday, 7 April 2015

India Agri & Food updates - 08April'15 !

1. Domestic wheat production is likely to slide by almost 5 per cent after significant tracts across key wheat-growing States, such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, were damaged by unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms through much of last month.

2. Oilmeal exports dipped 63 per cent in the financial year ended March to ₹4,278 crore.

3. The drop in oilmeal exports was due to a 76.3% slump in soymeal sales to a low 659,593 tonnes in 2014/15.

4. The Southern India Mills’ Association has appealed to the Textiles Ministry to direct Cotton Corporation of India to offload cotton, sell it through e-auction and avoid rate speculation.

5. Unseasonal rains and hailstorms, being witnessed from February-end, have damaged rabi (winter-sown) crops in about 113 lakh hectares of area in the country. Total cultivable area in rabi season stands at 600 lakh hectares.

6. The Centre today said it is ready to relax quality norms for procurement of wheat from farmers in view of crops being affected by the unseasonal rains and hailstorms in various parts of the country.

7. Contamination of food is a "serious" problem in India as use of antibiotics "compromises" food safety while junk food adds to the problem, a green body today said and advocated for a disease surveillance and alert system and better enforcement of food safety act.

8. Scientific evidence has shown that contamination of food is a serious issue in India as unchecked microbial activity, and the use of pesticides and antibiotics seriously compromise food safety.

9. Contamination of food is a "serious" problem in India as use of antibiotics "compromises" food safety while junk food adds to the problem, a green body today said and advocated for a disease surveillance and alert system and better enforcement of food safety act.

Contamination of food is a "serious" problem in India as use of antibiotics "compromises" food safety while junk food adds to the problem, a green body today said and advocated for a disease surveillance and alert system and better enforcement of food safety act.

Global Agri, Food & Health Updates - 08April'15 !

1. Banned steroids and stimulants have been found in muscle building and fat burning sports supplements in the UK, a BBC documentary broadcast this week has found.

2. Tetra Pak has opened a 4,000m² warehouse for finished products in Gornji Milanovac in Serbia, as part of a €11.9m two-year investment programme.

3. Authorities in Brazil are planning to ramp up the quality of chocolate products sold in the country, which could result in greater demand for cocoa beans and higher prices for cocoa growers.

4. Eating four eggs a week could lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in men, a study has claimed.

5. A sharp drop in sugar prices is the main factor behind a fall in overall global food prices, says the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

6. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced 21 grants totaling more than $10 million have been awarded to universities to support critical water problems in rural and agricultural watersheds across the United States.

7. On the ocassion of World Health Day (7Apr), WHO has estimated that levels of foodborne disease are much higher.

8. High-level authorities from 15 countries pledged pledged to wipe out forever the devasting animal disease known as ‘Peste des petits ruminants' by 2030, a lethal plague for goats and sheep and the scourge of rural households in vast swathes of the developing world.

9. The government of Mali and FAO have launched the implementation phase of a $5 million project aimed at restoring the livelihoods of households (33000 families) affected by the armed conflicts and climate change in the northern part of the country.

Monday, 6 April 2015

India Agri & Food upates - 07April'15 !

1. A sharp fall in Brazilian Real against the US dollar has made Indian exporters – mainly coffee, sugar, corn and soyameal – turn jittery as the currency slide in the South American nation is seen eroding their competitive advantage.

2. The Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) has developed a package to control the white stem borer (WSB), a serious pest affecting the Arabica coffee variety.

3. Providing a great opportunity for Farmers from Guntur, spices park has been inaugurated at Vankalayapadu in A.P. to boost exports of the chilli crop.

4. Government is reviewing the norms to raise the compensation limit to farmers in case of drought or heavy rains damaging the crops.

5. Ecozen Solutions, a company that makes solar-powered cold storage units for farmers, said it has raised about $1 million (Rs 6.2 crore) from Omnivore Partners, which has taken a minority stake and will have representation on the board of directors.

6. Global corn ending stocks for the 2014-2015 marketing year are projected to be at 185.3 million tonne, highest since 1999-2000.

7. The contribution of the so-called family packs (bricks, tubs) to the ice cream category has reduced from 50% in 2010 to 40% today, according Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the maker of Amul and a leading player in ice creams. On the other hand, the impulse segment (cones, sticks) has grown from 37% to 45% with ice cream now being categorized as an 'any-time' snack.

Global Agri, Food & Health updates - 07'April'15 !

1. Australian sheep meat and cereals-focused investment manager Growth Farms has held a first close of its first fund on A$35 million.
This includes a commitment from a UK insurer, represented by real estate investment manager CBRE Global Investors.

2. Large food and beverage companies are starting to fight back with mixed success against the smaller, more nimble companies that continue to steal market share, according to market analysts.

3. Rising health concerns, commodity costs and competition are restraining sales of chocolate in the U.S. that until 2014 were growing strongly, according to market research from Mintel.

4. New data has revealed an alarming rate of food shortages among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

5. A phenolic compound known as oleocanthal can selectively kill cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells intact, say researchers, who suggest their novel findings may explain why olive oil is linked to decreased cancer risk.

6. China’s food authorities received over half a million complaints in 2014—double the number that was lodged the previous year.

Sunday, 5 April 2015

Global Agri, Food & Health Updates - 05April'15 !

1. Unisys Corporation has been awarded a multi-million Euro contract as part of a consortium to deliver IT services and support for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

2. Anuga FoodTec 2015 saw over 45,000 experts from the food and beverage industry come together in Cologne, Germany last week. Over 1,500 exhibitors, which corresponds to a 14% increase, exhibited on exhibition space covering 121,000m² and around 56% of the suppliers came from abroad.

3. Eight of the 10 biggest multinational food companies have improved their food security and sustainability policies over the past year – but all must do more to put their commitments into practice, says Oxfam’s latest Behind the Brands report.

4. USDA has redesigned the Radio Broadcast website. Please check your old links to make sure you have the correct URL and not going to a former sub page. The new URL goes to http://audioarchives.oc.usda.gov.

5. USDA is making available $332 million in financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).

6. Nestlé has opened a CHF80m production factory in Vietnam to meet rising consumer demand for decaffeinated coffee.

7. USDA announced funding awards totaling nearly $19 million, including more than $6.7 million for antimicrobial resistance strategies, to 36 grantees to ensure a safe and nutritious food supply and while maintaining American agricultural competitiveness.

8. Toshiba and Kawasaki City have developed DNA chip technology that they claim can simultaneously test 14 foodborne pathogens in less than 90 minutes.

9. Korea has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UAE to develop its Halal food industry, with the aim of almost doubling its current US$680m Halal food exports to US$1.23bn by 2017.

10. USDA has awarded $31.5 million in funding to local, state, and national organizations to support programs that help participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables.

11. China’s food authorities received over half a million complaints in 2014—double the number that was lodged the previous year.

12. Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the global dietary supplements market for the rest of the decade to control 44% of the global market by 2020.

13. Food companies account for well over half of forest-risk commodity commitments, according to a new report from NGO Forest Trends.

14. ABB Automation has seen increased demand in its robots from food manufacturers from 2011-2013, significantly in automation for packaged meat.

India Agri & Food Updates - 05April'15 !

1. Vegetable prices likely to climb 20-25%: Assocham.

2. Untimely rains damage 30 per cent mango crops in Uttar Pradesh.

3. Prolonged winter clouds uncertainty over Himachal Pradesh apple industry.

4. Rajasthan gets Rs 15,253.04 crore from NABARD in 2014-15.

5.NABARD provides Rs 10,248-crore support to Punjab in 2014-15.

6. Gujarat registered negative growth in agriculture in 2012-13: CAG.

7. During 2014-15 the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (Nabard) disbursed Rs 19,600 crore under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund, which provides loans for rural infrastructure projects to State Governments.This takes the total figure to Rs 1,66,000 crore since its inception in 1995.

8. Mother Dairy aims Rs 700-crore turnover from horticulture in FY16.