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.

Innovative Product - Naturemill Composter !

Innovative Product - Naturemill Composter !
http://www.naturemill.net/productslist.asp

Multipurpose Weed Remover - Invention by Prakasam Engineering College students !

Multipurpose Weed Remover - An Invention by Prakasam Engineering College students !

http://www.eenadu.net/Magzines/Annadata/anna33.pdf

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.