BREXIT and impact on UK Agriculture, a snapshot !

1. The UK's decision to leave the European Union goes against the wishes of 71% of the UK food & drink industry, according to a poll by the Food and Drink Federation.

2. The Common Agricultural Policy(CAP) is a cornerstone of the EU, costing nearly 40pc of its budget or €58bn a year.

 The CAP scheme has two main pillars: direct payments, known as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), and funding for the wider rural economy.

In 2015, UK farmers received almost €3.1bn (£2.4bn) in direct payments, according to the NFU.
Farmers have access to the €5.2bn (£4bn) pot of funding that has been allocated to the UK for rural development projects over the period 2014-2020, including €2.3bn that has been transferred from the BPS to the UK rural development programmes.

In total, 55 per cent of UK total income from farming comes from CAP support. Simply removing the CAP support, while it remained in place in the rest of Europe, "could devastate British farming".
But as per UKs farming minister, an advocate of BREXIT, it would create an £18bn a year “Brexit dividend”. This could be used to continue payments to farmers through an improved scheme.

3. Consultancy Agra Europe suggests land prices in UK would crash and 90 per cent of farmers could go out of business. It concluded: "What is certain is that no UK government would subsidise agriculture on the scale operated under the CAP."

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INDIA & GLOBAL Agriculture Roundup - 21June'16 !

1. In view of the prevailing shortage of pulses and their rising prices, India is negotiating with neighbouring Myanmar and other countries towards creating a buffer stock of up to eight lakh tonnes. India produces 17 lakh tonnes of pulses annually, as against the requirement of 23 lakh tonnes.

2. Rabobank and technology incubator RocketSpace have launch a food and agtech accelerator. The joint venture, Terra, will help agtech... start-ups develop go-to-market strategies and bring proof of concept technologies into commercially viable products.

3. Indian impact investment and venture capital fund Lok Capital has held a first close of $40.5 million on its third fund. Lok Capital III is targeting $100 million and expects to hold a final close in the next 12-18 months. It will target growth investments in healthcare, financial services and agriculture, with about $2-10 million per transaction.

It said the agriculture sector had opened up significant opportunities for impact investments, including dairy, supply chain management and farm-to-fork models.

4. The Centre (India) maintains its stand to impose 20% export duty on Sugar and 25% import duty on Wheat from Australia & France.

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Global & India Agriculture Roundup - 10June'16!

1. ADB (Asia Development Bank) provides $120m debt financing loan for Indian irrigation projects to improve irrigation and water management infrastructure in the state of Odisha.

2. Microsoft, Icrisat and Andhra Pradesh government have developed a sowing app to advise farmers on time to sow crops based on weather conditions, soil and other indicators with personalised village advisory dashboard to help farmers achieve optimal harvests.

The institute used Microsoft Cortana Intelligence Suite including Machine Learning and Business Intelligence (BI) tools. It uploaded the data it collected from farms in 13 districts to Microsoft’s Azure Cloud. Using BI tools, the dashboard provides important insights into soil health, fertiliser recommendations, and seven days’ weather forecast in Telugu.

The Sowing Application deploys powerful artificial intelligence to interface with weather forecasting models provided by the USA-based aWhere Inc.

3. Ban on farming along Yamuna to continue as water was "highly" polluted with "acidic, heavy metals and other high pollutants" which are very injurious to human health.

4. The Canadian public sector investment compmany British Columbia is buying a 9.99% ($625 million) stake in Glencore Agricultural Products.

5. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has provided a €15m loan to Kazakhstan dairy producer FoodMaster.

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Mixed Climate in India - Vegetable prices on the rise !

Vegetables, which normally has lesser shelf life and got to be consumed in less duration for the timeof yield are experiencing price surge due to Mixed climate conditions in India.
In some parts of the country there are heavy rains due to South West Monsoon and in certain other parts there are heat waves.

On an average vegetable prices have surged 2 to 3 times.Tomatoes are most likely to hit retail prices of Rs.50 per Kg in the local and domestic markets.

India Agriculture & Farm updates - 08/05/2016 !

1. To facilitate budding entrepreneurs in rural dairy farming communities and bring about capacity building and socio-economic growth, Abbott Nutrition has teamed up with Prabhat Dairy, an integrated milk and dairy products company.

2. Centre buys 2,300 tons of onion so far to build buffer. The buffer stock of onion is being created using the Rs 900-crore Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF). Owing to bumper crop the Govt is expected to buy 15,000 tonnes this year.

3. The US trying to gain greater access to Indian agriculture produce market, which is currently limited by tariff and non-tariff barriers. India imported agricultural items such as almonds, cotton, apple, walnuts and pulses worth $ 1.33 billion last calendar year but exported shrimps, guar gum, spices and other agri-items worth $ 4.1 billion.

4. An expected slowdown in Indian sugar exports as domestic prices surge, will boost the market share of Thai and Brazilian sugar sales in Asia.

5. India got $397 million FDI for agri promotion in last 4 years, with maximum inflows from Mauritius followed by Singapore and Germany.

Cows on Ramp in Rohtak (INDIA) !

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India Agriculture updates - 16April'16 !

1. In Madhyapradesh Onion prices have stooped down to 30 Paise per Kilogram.

2. A.P. Govt has released 142 Crores as a further phase of Form Loan waiver.

3. India has liased with Germany for Ganga Cleansning project to spend 22.5 crores from 2016-2018.

4. As per an SBI (State Bank of India) Report, Agriculture GDP would attain 7-8% growth this year if Monsoons occur according to the positive forecasts.

5. In the state of A.P. in just one year (2015-16), 49,421 acres of Agriculture land has been diverted to other sectors of Urbanization and Industrialization.

6. To overcome Fodder Grass shortage in A.P. state, the Govt plans to give Silage equipment at 75% discount through Employment Gaurantee scheme (MGNREGS). Every Livestock is giving 1 to 2.5 litres more milk after silage consumption.

7. State-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) has invited bids from the scheduled banks for raising short-term loan of Rs 20,000 crore for one month period.

8. With a plan to Globalize Indian Agriculture, the government plans to integrate regulated wholesale markets, or mandis, in the country through National Agriculture Market (NAM). The e-trading platform — NAM — proposes to integrate 585 regulated wholesale market or agriculture produce market committees ( APMCs) under one electronic platform.
http://agmarknet.dac.gov.in/
 

Cow Grazing Club in India !

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India Agriculture updates - 03April'16 !

1. India imports 10,000 tonne soyameal due to high domestic prices. Despite an import duty of 15%, imported soyameal is cheaper than the domestic produce by 7.8%.
2. As per India Meteorological Department forecast, there is a high probability of 76 per cent of maximum temperatures in the core Heat Wave (HW) zone during the 2016 hot weather season (April -June) to be above normal.
Core HW zone covers states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana and met sub-divisions of Marathwada, Vidharbha, Madhya Maharashtra and coastal Andhra Pradesh.
3. The Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union will launch ‘Nandini Trupti’, a flexi pack milk packet with a shelf-life of 90 days, on April 5.
4. A Kisan Mela and awarenesss session on 'Pradhanmantri Phasal Bheema Yojana' will be conducted on 4th April'16 from 10:00a.m IST in Kalikiri Market Yard (Kalikiri, Chiittoor Dist, Andhra Pradesh).
5. Chittoor Dist: Organic/Natural Farmers Association will be formed at District level and also Video conference training on Natural/Organic Farming will be imparted by National Award recepient Subash Palekar.

For registrations contact or send SMS to 8886614187, 8886612522.
6. GWEL(GMR Warora Energy Limited) started Water ATMs in Chandrapur District (Maharashtra) at 30 paise per litre. 11,000 villagers are expected to benefit from this initiative.

Kisan Suvidha - Mobile App !

1. Kisan Suvidha - an omnibus mobile app developed by Ministry of Agriculture to help farmers by providing relevant information to them quickly.

2. This app has been launched by Hon'ble PM on March 19, 2016 during inauguration of Krishi Unnati Mela and within 10 days, more than 50,000 downloads have happened.

3. Kisan Suvidha has a simple interface and provides information on five critical parameters-weather, input dealers, market price, plant protection and expert advisories. An additional tab directly connects the farmer with the Kisan Call Centre where agriculture experts answer their queries.
4. Unique features like extreme weather alerts and market prices of commodity in nearest area and the maximum price in state as well as India have been added to empower farmers in the best possible manner.

India Agriculture, Food & Nutrition updates - 17March'16 !

1. India is unlikely to become one of the top three agriculture export countries of the world by 2020 due to high domestic consumption base and limited arable land, Parliament was informed today.

2. Myanmar, China, Indonesia, SriLanka, Egypt, Middle East countries are the top importers of Sugar from India as per ISMA (Indian Sugar Mills Association).

3. Ethanol production is estimated to decline at 290 crore litres in 2015-16 as against 306 crore litres in the previous year, parliament announced.

4. 65 lakh tonnes of pulses to be imported this year to meet the raising domestic demand as per an Union Minister.

5. Agriculture sector grows by 1.6% per annum in first 4 years of 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17).
6. More than 15,800 posts (43%) are lying vacant at state-run FCI, which is also facing shortage of more than 8,600 workers.

7. The government will launch an online system this week to automate the operations at FCI depots in order to minimise storage losses of foodgrains.

Global Agriculuture, Food & Nutrition updates - 17March'16 !

1. Brazil had a record harvest, and Australian production also went up, but the US market will be faced by new challenges as demand for organic sugar increases.

2. Farmers Edge hires ex-Monsanto exec to oversee Brazil expansion of its precision agri platform from 140,000 to 1m acres in 2016.

3. General Mills to double organic acreage by 2019.

4. A large volume of smuggled meat from Brazil and the US has been reportedly seized at a port in Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China.

5. The founders of Coconut Beach credit their affordable price to familial relationships with coconut growers in Thailand, and they want their product to reach the masses.

6. About 75% of sausage products on Russia’s grocery shelves not only fail to meet quality standards, but could be dangerous to public health, according to a study by consumer protection organisation Roscontrol.

7. Arla, Nestlé UK and Ireland, Unilever and Dairy UK are among the more than 100 companies and organizations signing up to the Courtauld Commitment 2025 to reduce by 20% and save £20bn .

8. Anterra Capital, the European agtech investment firm, has held a second close of its first fund on $125 million, getting further investment from Rabobank, the Dutch global food and agriculture bank, and Eight Roads, the proprietary capital arm of global investment house Fidelity International.

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Multipurpose Weed Remover - Invention by Prakasam Engineering College students !

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India Agriculture, Food & Nutrition updates - 09March'2016 !

1. Most food labelling in India shows inaccurate representation of the salt that packaged products contain, a major study has found. The research comes at a time when growth in salt-related deaths in the country is surging.

2. India's INR140bn (US$2.8bn) soft drink industry has called on the government to reverse an increase in excise duty (increased from 18% to 21%) on beverages (aerated drinks and packaged water).

3. An infusion of $2 million in Series Seed capital will help Bandar Foods bring increasingly popular Indian flavors to mainstream Americans’ everyday life through modern food technology and platforms, the company announced March 1.

4. To wean away people from tobacco cultivation, the government is giving high priority for remunerative horticulture crops. The government has been implementing the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) with effect from 2014-15 that covers fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, coconut and cashew, among others.

5. Export of soybean meal during February, 2016 was just 1127 tons as compared to 64,515 tons in February, 2015 showing a decrease of 98% over the same period of last year.

6. The Centre said it has already contracted import of 8,500 tonnes of pulses and the shipments are on the way.  It also said pulse procurement for buffer stock has touched 51,000 tonnes, surpassing the target set for this kharif season.

7. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) plans to raise ₹3,500 crore through tax-free non-convertible bonds. “The issue will open on March 9 and close on March 14.

Global Food & Nutrition updates - 09March'2016 !

1. Brazil’s agri sector grows as GDP contracts further. The agri sector is bucking the country’s overall economic crisis and there are large discounts available, but there is still plenty of fiscal and political risk.

2. Farmland Partners closes $197m Illinois farmland deal.

3. Targeting overseas acquistions, Chinese agribusiness is raising a 3bn yuan fund, and is also seeking $450m through Hosen Capital.

4. USDA announced the availability of up to $20 million in competitive grants through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. The program aims to spark the development and adoption of cutting-edge conservation technologies and approaches for farmers, ranchers and other landowners.

5. Over 20 years of nutrition research and more than 150 human intervention studies make chicory root fiber one of the best researched fibers in the world.

6. Food Vision event will be held for the first time in ASIA in 2016 in Singapore's GRAND HYATT hotel from 27-29'April'16.

India Agricultural Updates - 05March'16 !

1. The contemporary water purification market in India is worth 1,800-2000 crores with a 15% year on year growth rate for the last 4 years. However due to inflation this year the growth is expected to be only at 10%.

2. Global agri biotech company Monsanto has threatened to withdraw Bt cotton technology after a Union government-appointed panel reportedly cut seed price and royalty for the upcoming kharif season.

3. India the second largest producer of Sugar in the world has clinched export deals worth 1.15 million to China, Myanmar, Srilanka, Bangladesh and London. This was possible amid worries about lower shipments from top supplier Brazil.

4. According to chinese researchers 'Black Rice' variety is found to have cancer prevention properties. Compared to normal rice, Black Rice is found to have more of Vitamin B, Niacin, Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc and Fibre content. Organic Black Rice fetches Rs.300 per Kilogram in Global Markets and regular eating of which is expected to bolster immune system.

India Agriculture updates - 04March'16 !

1. After launching an ambitious crop insurance scheme – Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana – the Centre is now turning its focus on covering the risks of the plantation sector.  A market-linked insurance scheme for plantation crops such as tea, coffee, rubber and spices, is being worked out to protect growers of these crops against price and yield fluctuations. The scheme may also include tobacco.

2. With Rain and hailstorm forecast over Northern wheat belt, Traders expect a price increase in case the weather turns bad.

3. Despite adverse weather condition, Bengal mango belt expecting high level of crop.

4. The only GM product allowed for commercial cultivation in the country, Bt cotton has made India the largest cotton producer in the world and converted the country from a net importer to a net exporter of this important cash crop.

5. National Award recepient Mr.Subash Palekar, the pioneer of Natural Farming is conducting an 8 day training workshop on Zero budget natural farming in Kakinda from 24th to 31stMarch'2016.

 Venue: Sri Chaitanya Polytechnic College, Near Bhavanarayana Temple, Oppossite to Ashok Leyland. For registrations, Farmers can contact: Pendekanti Sarath: 099898 53366, sarathpendekanti@gmail.com, Thrinaadh: 089770 97405, thrinadh45@gmail.com

 

India Agriculture updates - 03March'16 !

1. In the 2015/16 marketing year, 513 sugar mills had started operations, but 107 mills stopped crushing early by February end.

2. The government's rice procurement has increased by over 21 per cent to 28.41 million tonnes so far in the 2015-16 marketing year.

3. India's central Agriculture minister aims 4% farm sector growth in FY17 on Budget support & Favourable monsoon.

4. Government to procure 15,000 tons onion for buffer stock.

5. As per CAI, Domestic cotton output to be 353 lakh bales in 2015-16.

6. In Union Budget'2016, Rs 35,984 crore allocated for agriculture for 2016-17, while there is no mention of Farm R&D.

7. Jain Irrigation System founder Chairman and Padmashri awardee Bhavaralal Jain, who pioneered micro-irrigation system in India passed away on 24Feb'16.

8. India’s long-winding negotiations with Russia for accessing its large market for dairy products may finally be nearing an end with the Russian quality control department, FSVPS, agreeing to discuss and examine the independent disease control mechanism adopted by the dairies wanting to export.

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India Agriculture, Food & Nutrition updates - 07Jan'16 !

1. Bengal's tea companies to instal solar plants in estates capitalizing on The removal of VAT is expected to bring down the cost of solar generation on a par with that of thermal power generation.

2. India’s rice exports for the current financial year are headed for a decline, both in value and volume terms, over the previous year on reduced purchases by large buyers, such as Iran and Nigeria, and drop in realisations.

3. Indian domestic sugar prices have surged, boosting incentives for production of low-quality white sugar for the local market and export prospects fade as domestic prices soar.

4. Agriculture and allied businesses are increasingly gaining importance as a serious business activity among the global industrial giants.

5. A two-day International Conference on Agri-business in Emerging Economies is being held at the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) in collaboration with Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management and the Journal of Agri-business in Developing and Emerging Economies (JADEE).

Global Agriculture, Food & Nutrition updates - 07Jan'16 !

1. Romanian land costs about €2,500 to €4,000 per hectare, whereas in Poland you’re looking at anything between about €8,000 and €15,000 per hectare.
2. Cannabis investment firm looks to raise $100m in first half of 2016 .
3. The e-commerce giant Alibaba invests $1.25bn in Chinese food delivery and online services company .
4. SFP (Sustainable Farm Partners) seeks $40m to convert US row crops to organic.
5. Foodborne outbreak investigations into E. coli linked to Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants in the US and Salmonella from poultry products in Canada are continuing.
6. About 67% of all canned meat and large part of dairy production on the Russian market is counterfeit, according to a study by the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE).
7. Revolutionalizing personal nutrition, The ‘internet of food’ could one day tell users what to eat based on their personal health needs, according to a digital health researcher.
8. An investigation is ongoing in Germany to find the source of a Listeria outbreak which has sickened 66 people since 2012.
9. Swiss-Israeli flavours and ingredients house Frutarom Industries has invested 10 million Israeli Shekel (€2.25m) for a 50% stake in the biotech start-up Algalo.
10. Olympus Automation Ltd (OAL) has received a £60,000 grant from the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative to develop robotic ‘chefs’ in food manufacturing.