AgroSpectrum September 2020

You’ll find an affordable, turn-key solution to the content you
need. BioSpectrum India has years of experience creating
top-notch content - let us develop the collateral you need!

www.biospectrumindia.com Email: [email protected] | Mobile: +91 9579069369



4 AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Volume 01  |  Issue 07  |  September 2020

Publisher & Managing Editor Social Media Editor TOP STORIES
Ravindra Boratkar Ankit Kankar
[email protected] Termotécnica
Advisor launches ‘Safe
Dr C. D. Mayee CFO & Special Correspondent Pack’ using
Former Chairman, ASRB-ICAR Manasee Kurlekar nanotechnology

Chief Editor Operation & Production Scan the
Dr. Milind Kokje Asmita Thakar QR Code
[email protected] [email protected]

Advisor - Content Design
Vijay Thombre MEDIA VISION

Executive Editor Circulation, Subscription
Narayan Kulkarni and Media Enquiry
Sudam Walekar
Assistant Editors [email protected]
Dipti Barve / Dr Manbeena Chawla
The Andersons
Correspondent: APAC launches new
Hithaishi C. Bhaskar biological that
maximizes
MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Scan the crop residue
QR Code breakdown
South Region:
Alok Srivastava (National Business Head-Ad Sales & Marketing) Scan the FarmSense
‘NITON, Block ‘B’, Lower Ground Floor, No.11/3, Palace Road, Bangalore-560 001. QR Code unveils award-
Tel.: +91-80-41131912/13 І Mobile: +91-9845128747 winning smart
E-mail: [email protected] pest monitoring
system
West Region:
Pooja Lalingkar (Sr. Executive - Ad Sales & Marketing) NHRC Hisar
1st Floor, CIDCO Convention Center, Sector 30A, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra-400703. to open first
Mobile: +91-9619597528 І E-mail: [email protected] Donkey milk
dairy
North Region:
Ankit Kankar (Manager- Product & Strategic Communications) Scan the
103-104, Rohit House 3, Tolstoy Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi - 110001. QR Code
Tel. No: +91 11 4354 2737 І Mobile: +91-9579069369
E-mail: [email protected] www.agrospectrumindia.com

Nagpur: Product & Marketing:
Manisha Boratkar Ankit Kankar
402, Govind Apartments, Shankar Nagar Square, Nagpur 440010. Tel. No: +91-712-2555 249 email: [email protected]

INTERNATIONAL: Singapore
MM Activ Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Saradha Mani, General Manager
#08-08, High Street Centre, 1 North Bridge Road, Singapore - 179094
Tel: +65-63369142 І Fax:+65-63369145 І E-mail: [email protected]

Printed and published by Disclaimer:  Contents and advertisements in Agro
Ravindra Boratkar on behalf of MM Activ  Views expressed in the published articles Spectrum are purely for information
Sci-Tech Communications Pvt Ltd purposes and the Publisher & Editor of
are personal opinions of the contributors. Agro Spectrum give no warranty and
Printed at Spectrum Offset, D-101, 1st Floor, Agro Spectrum does not necessarily claim accept no responsibility for the accuracy
Satyam Estate, Behind CDSS, Erandwane, to support these views. or completeness of information provided
Pune-411038. Maharashtra. therein. Readers must undertake research
Tel : +91 20 2543 6556, TIN No: 09565712431  Readers are advised to make proper and take professional advice before acting
enquires before entering into any on any information provided in Agro
Published from Ashirwad, 36/A/2, S.No. commitment in relations to advertisements Spectrum.
270, Pallod Farms, Near Bank of Baroda, Baner appearing in this publication. The
Road, Pune- 411045. Tel. No: +91 20 2729 1769 Printer, Publisher, Editor and Owner of
the magazine will not be liable for any
www.agrospectrumindia.com consequences.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com AGRO EDIT 5

Emerging New Normal
in agriculture

New Normal is an emerging vision or collection. Likewise, US based FarmWise's self-
anticipation of post COVID-19 in every driven robots can identify weeds among crops
sphere of life that is being discussed on and remove them without the need for herbicides,
a wide scale now. Agriculture is no exception. according to Research and Markets. These are just
According to different market research firms, the a few examples of how robots are getting employed
varied areas of the agriculture activities, which in agri activities. From consumers’ viewpoint,
are expected to register growth following the safety is an important issue and hence products,
pandemic include fumigants market, inoculants which are now touched by human at any stage
market and artificial intelligence (AI) and robots. will not be preferable. Hence use of robotics from
harvesting to packaging without a human touch will
Agricultural inoculants are used for improving naturally have more demand in new-normal days.
plant health. Experts feel that the demand would
grow due to adoption of sustainable agricultural Communicating this factor that the product
practices and increasing focus on growing yields. has not been touched by a human to a consumer
The global agricultural inoculants market was will also be important. Thus, mentioning such
valued at $302.1 million in 2016 and is projected details on labels will naturally attract safety-
to reach $683.7 million by 2025, growing at a sensitive consumers in large number, particularly
CAGR of 9.50 per cent. In case of fumigants among those who are not price sensitive.
markets, it is expected to grow at 4 per cent CAGR
reaching to $2.13 billion by 2025. Fumigation Of course, such luxuries will be workable in
is done to treat pesticides. However, there are developed countries where robotics is already
several regulations about its usage considering the engaged on a large scale due to large sizes of the
risks involved in it. That is affecting its demand. farms and non-availability of labour. But situation
in India and in many other developing and
Next-gen technology such as AI and robots is underdeveloped countries is exactly the opposite.
probably one major area that has already started Farm sizes are very small, thus making the usage
making inroads into the agriculture activity. The of robotics and AI unviable. Unlike developed
pandemic has accelerated the adoption of robotics countries, 60 to 70 per cent of the Indian
and other automation technologies in agriculture. population directly or indirectly depends on
According to Markets and Markets, the overall agriculture sector. This can be further understood
use of AI in agriculture market is projected to as nearly 25 per cent of world farmers are from
grow at CAGR 25.5 per cent, from $1 billion to $4 India and 48 per cent of the world’s arable land.
billion from 2020 to 2026.
Robotics and over technologies may even
French agricultural robotics company Naio reduce jobs in the agriculture sector. Experts
Technologies has almost 150 robots in circulation have a lot of hope that in fact agriculture will help
around the world, which are designed for market considerably in improving the post COVID-19
gardeners, weeding mound grown vegetables economy. The government has already announced
and weeding vineyards. Another company Root economic packages for the agri sector. But it
AI in the US has conducted tests of its product will also have to look into what other steps are
picking robots, particularly capable of harvesting required for the smooth functioning of agriculture
soft fruits, and planning its deployment in US in sector. A complete vision of agri sector for new-
a year and Europe thereafter. Norway based Saga normal will have to emerge in detail.
robotics is one more company whose robots can
do UV treatment of crops for disease management, Dr. Milind Kokje,
produce picking, cutting grass, spraying the data Chief Editor

[email protected]

6 CONTENT AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

CONTENT

COVER STORY 17

supply
chain
reinvents for better

The Government of India has always given a special status to the agriculture sector as it is
considered the front wheel of the Indian economy. It has introduced various policies and
financial schemes to boost the agro sector and the supply chain in tow. The Ministry of Food
Processing Industries (MoFPI) is focused on the ‘Farm to Fork’ model. Crops will be grown
depending on the market demand, which will help increase the farmers’ income. Such an
organized supply chain will also reduce the loss of perishable goods. AgroSpectrum examines
the various options at our disposal to improve the existing supply chain in the country.

22 24Scientific warehousing Providing remunerative
is need of the hour prices to growers

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com CONTENT 7

CONTENT

26 Bringing the market closer to farmers

“There is need to 29 33 7400 FPOs adding value to
create Amazon for agri 31 35 farmers’ prosperity
Anish Kumar,
commodity in India”
Ramesh Doraiswami, Managing Trustee, National Association for
Farmers Producer Organisations (NAFPO)
MD & CEO, National Bulk Handling
Corporation Ltd (NBHC) Tech adoption will enhance
shelf life of dry fish
Traceability: Crucial Dr Partha P Biswas,
component of
supply chain Incharge, Fisheries Training & Culture Unit,
Venkat Maroju, Simurali Krishi Kendra, West Bengal

CEO, SourceTrace Systems

37 38 Irradiation facilities for food
preservation in PPP mode

“Portable infrastructures 40 “Focus on exports, especially
should be promoted” secondary products to
double the income”
Devendra Gupta,,
Technology News.....................15
CEO & Co founder Academic News........................44
Ecozen Solutions People News..............................46
Agri-Inputs news.......................47
REGULARS Supply chain news...................49

Editorial.......................................05
Your Views.................................08
Policy News...............................09
Finance News............................11
Company News........................13
Startups......................................14

8 YOUR VIEWS AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

TOP VIDEO

Diwakar Nath
Mishra
Joint Secretary,
Dept of Commerce
under the Ministry
of Commerce
and Industry
talks about
opportunities in
agriculture export

Scan the QR Khushwant Jain Feedback
Code  Chairman, Indian
Scan the QR Oil seeds and Informative interview
Code  Produce Export
Scan the QR Promotion Council The interview on Biopesticides
Code  (IOPEPC) speaks company, Bionema in UK was very
about import and informative and useful. Looking
export of oil seeds forward for more coverage of world
in India agri- business industry in upcoming
issues of AGS.
Dr Bhagirath
Chaudhary Nupur Likhate, Pune
Member of Board,
Agricultural & Agriculture focused article
Processed Food
Products Export Article written by Dr P K Chakrabarty
Development on Scientific review on pesticides
(APEDA) talks ban was interesting and focused on
about 3 points agriculture sector. AGS should publish
agenda to boost more articles on scientific angle of
agri-export of agriculture.
India.
Mahesh Soni, Nagpur

Need more focus on
agri-tech startups

AGS should cover agri-tech startups,
which are continuously working to
provide eco- friendly and affordable
solutions to the agriculture industry. It
will be useful for budding entrepreneurs
and modern farmers.

Saumya Chaudhry, Bangalore

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com POLICY NEWS 9

Govt launches PM launches Rs
ICAR's data 1 lakh crore agri-
recovery centre infrastructure fund
'Krishi Megh'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Narendra Singh Tomar, Union recently launched a new Central
Minister of Agriculture & Sector Scheme providing
Farmers’ Welfare, on August financing facility under the
11, 2020, launched ICAR's data Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
recovery centre 'Krishi Megh' of Rs 1 lakh crore. The scheme
(National Agricultural Research will support farmers, Primary
& Education System -Cloud Agricultural Credit Society
Infrastructure and Services) (PACS), Farmer Producer
along with the KVC ALUNET Organizations (FPOs), agri-
(Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Chhatr entrepreneurs, etc. in building community farming assets and
Alumni Network) and Online post-harvest agriculture infrastructure. These assets will enable
Accreditation System for farmers to get greater value for their produce as they will be able
Higher Agricultural Educational to store and sell at higher prices, reduce wastage, and increase
Institutions (HEI). National processing and value addition. Only 30 days after the Cabinet
Agricultural Higher Education formally approved the scheme, the first sanction of over Rs 1000
Project, which is funded by crore was made to over 2,280 farmer societies. The Agriculture
the Government of India and Infrastructure Fund is a medium to long-term debt financing
World Bank is designed for facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest
strengthening the national management of infrastructure and community farming assets
agricultural education system in through interest subvention and credit guarantee. The scheme
the country. Its larger objective shall be in force from FY2020 to FY2029 (10 years).
is to provide more relevant and
high-quality education to the Centre to fund agri
agricultural university students, start-ups under RKVY
which are in line with the New
Education Policy - 2020. The “New technology in the field of
main features of the Krishi agriculture and allied sectors through
Megh is that it is equipped with start-ups and agripreneurship is
the latest AI / deep learning being promoted under the Rashtriya
software and tools kits for Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in order
building and deploying deep to contribute directly and indirectly
learning based applications to enhancing the income of farmers,”
through image analysis, disease said Union Minister for Agriculture
identification in livestock. and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj,
Narendra Singh Tomar. In the year 2020-21, in the first phase,
112 start-ups in the area of agro processing, food technology and
value addition will be funded for an amount of Rs 1185.90 lakh.
Under the revamped RKVY scheme, an Innovation and Agri-
entrepreneurship Development programme has been launched
in order to promote innovation, agripreneurship and start-ups
by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation
ecosystem. Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers
Welfare (DAC & FW) has selected 5 Knowledge Partners (KPs)
as Centres of Excellence and 24 RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness
Incubators (R-ABIs) from across the country.

10 P O L I C Y N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Centre releases Telangana ties up with WEF
Rs 553 Cr for AI-led agri-innovation
to promote
mechanization The Telangana government launched the Artificial
in agriculture intelligence for Agricultural Innovation (AI4AI) programme,
in collaboration with the Centre for the Fourth Industrial
The Centre has released Rs 553 Revolution, India (C4IR), and World Economic Forum.
crore to states under a scheme The team from C4IR, WEF India worked closely with the
to promote mechanization Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University
in the agriculture sector. The (PJTSAU) and the Telangana government’s Information
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Technology, Electronics & Communications (ITE&C)
Mechanization (SMAM) was department to identify high impact use cases of Artificial
launched in April 2014 with an Intelligence (AI), which would benefit both, the farmers and
aim to have inclusive growth of the policymakers.Telangana has defined its vision to be a global
farm mechanization to boost leader in emerging technologies, including AI, and has made
productivity. "In the year rapid strides towards achieving the vision. The government of
2020-21, a budget of Rs 1,033 Telangana has declared 2020 as the Year of AI to accelerate AI
crore has been provided for readiness and develop a conducive AI innovation ecosystem in
the scheme, out of which Rs the state, opening new avenues of AI-led innovation for social
553 crore has been released to impact, especially in the public sector.
state governments," an official
statement said. Agricultural Maharashtra approves
mechanization helps in ADB funded agri project
increasing production through
timely farm operations and The Maharashtra 1000 crore, of which Rs 700
cut in operations by ensuring government has approved a crore will be provided by
better management of project that will boost fruit the ADB and the rest will be
inputs. Mechanization also and vegetable production covered by the government
enhances the productivity in the state. The project will of Maharashtra. The project
of natural resources and be funded by the Manila- aims to make the state a
reduces drudgery associated based Asian Development surplus producer of fruits
with various farm operations. Bank (ADB). The project is and vegetables, which will
Individual farmers are estimated to be worth Rs help in boosting the farmer’s
also provided subsidy for income. The project has
procurement of machinery. been hailed by farmer
Total funds of Rs 11, 78.47 organisations, which hopes
crore were provided in the year that it will help the farmers
2018-19 & 2019-20 to Punjab, especially the marginal
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. ones. The project is seen as
an important part of raising
the profile of agriculture.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com F I N A N C E N E W S 11

Syngenta AG reports
strong sales growth in
H1 FY 2020

Syngenta AG recently constant exchange rates,
announced the half year
financial reports of 2020 and 9 per cent higher at
(H1). Sales of $7.1 billion
were 5 per cent above constant exchange rates
2019, 10 per cent higher
at constant exchange adjusted for change of
rates driven by increased
volumes. Crop protection control royalties. In Dhanuka posts
sales of $5.5 billion were 6 increase in
per cent higher, 12 per cent Asia Pacific, sales of crop consolidated
at constant exchange rates, profit in FY20-21
with a strong performance protection were up by 12 per
across all markets and Dhanuka Agritech announced
segments, particularly in cent Capital Expenditure that its consolidated net
Brazil. Seeds sales of $1.6 sales in Q1 FY21 stood at Rs
billion were 2 per cent Request (CER), with 373.85 crore, an increase by
up on 2019, 4 70.72 per cent y-o-y (Year-on-
per cent at strong growth in Australia Year) from Rs 218.98 crore
in Q1 FY20. The net profit in
due to improved weather Q1FY21 came in at Rs 51.79
crore that increased by 252.89
conditions, and continued per cent, as compared to Q1
FY20, when it reported Rs
momentum from 2019 14.67 crore. The net profit
margin in Q1 FY21 came in at
in India. Significant 13.85 per cent growth of 7.15
per cent y-o-y. The net profit
foreign exchange margin for Q1 FY20 was at 6.7
per cent. Dhanuka Agritech
movements reduced had resumed operations in
a phased manner from the
reported sales. China beginning of April as per
government directives on
showed continued COVID-19 pandemic. However,
its subsidiary firm Dhanuka
positive momentum, Agri-Solutions has not yet
started operations. With a view
with crop protection to ensure minimal disruption
with respect to operations
sales increasing by 18 including production and
distribution activities, the
per cent (CER). group has taken several
business continuity measures,
Coromandel reports 51% including working from home
growth in revenue Q1 FY21 option for employees.

Coromandel International Limited, known for its GROMOR
brand of fertilizers, reported strong financial performance for
the Apr-Jun quarter, indicating that farming activity in South
India continued apace even during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The company reported a 51 per cent jump in its revenue for
the Apr-Jun quarter compared to the same three months of
2019. Even when compared to the January-March period,
consolidated revenue was up by 12 per cent at Rs 3,213 crore.
Consolidated net profit after tax for the quarter is Rs 251 crore
in comparison to Rs 62 crore for the corresponding quarter last
year. This was despite a faster increase in material costs. The
company gets about 85 per cent of its revenue from the sales
of fertilizers and related goods, and the
remaining from the sales of pesticides
and other crop protection devices.
Both segments saw robust
growth during the quarter.

12 F I N A N C E N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

FACT posts highest Rallis India reports
net profit increase net profit of Rs 91.9 Cr
in 2019-20 for Q1 FY21

The performance of Fertilizers and Chemicals Rallis India Ltd., a subsidiary of Tata Chemicals,
Travancore Limited (FACT) particularly in posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 91.9
the areas of production and marketing has crore for Q1 FY21, as per the quarterly results.
shown marked improvement during first three It increased by 52.58 per cent, as compared to
months of 2020-21. It has extended fertilizer Q1 FY20 when it reported Rs 60.21 crore. The
marketing operations across India and widening consolidated net sales reported in Q1 FY21 came
its marketing network to West Bengal, Orissa, in at Rs 662.7 crore, which increased by 6.33 per
Maharashtra and Gujarat. It has also started cent Y-o-Y from Rs 623.24 crore in Q1 FY20.
marketing Ammonium Sulphate in the states of With timely arrival of the monsoons and positive
Maharashtra and West Bengal. To improve its top farmer sentiment, agricultural activity has picked
and bottom lines the company has placed purchase up well. With the ongoing pandemic situation,
orders for the import of 3 shipments of fertilizers. the company is taking all the safety measures
Two shipments, one of 27500 MT of MOP and at the organisation level as per the government
the other of 27500 MT of Complex Fertilizer have guidelines. The company has registered a 13.5 per
already arrived. The third shipment of MOP is cent revenue growth during Q1 for domestic crop
expected to arrive in August. During the Financial care business on account of robust demand and a
Year 2019-20, it showed record increase in net 3 per cent revenue growth in seeds sales over the
profit, production of its prime product Factamfos, previous year despite the challenges faced.
Ammonium Sulphate and sale of fertilizers.

NABARD funds SHGs for
digitisation in Karnataka

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural and Rs 2.07 crore disbursed for supporting
Development (NABARD) in Karnataka various activities and facilitating financial
has disbursed Rs 2.51 crore of grant inclusion and digitation of the
assistance to Self Help Groups (SHGs) financial transactions. 18 District Co-
for promotion, skill development operative Central Banks (DCCBs)
and digitisation of records. E-Shakti, have been covered under Public
the project for digitisation of SHGs, Management Financial System
is under implementation in seven (PFMS) resulting in Direct Benefit
districts. So far, 1.17 lakh SHGs Transfer (DBT) of funds under
are digitised. The cumulative grant various schemes of the Central
assistance of Rs 6.47 crore was released Government. The cumulative grant
for SHG promotion. During the assistance released under financial
year, Rs 5.65 crore was sanctioned inclusion was Rs 43.98 crore.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O M PA N Y N E W S 13

BASF India posts Q1 FY21 net loss

Baden Aniline and Soda Factory corresponding quarter a year The company’s operations
(BASF), India has reported ago. Expenses increased to Rs were impacted during the June
widening of its net loss to Rs 1,809.4 crore in the quarter quarter due to lockdown and
29.15 crore in the first quarter under review from Rs 1,601.6 other emergency measures
of current fiscal due to higher crore in the year-ago period. imposed by governments
expenses. The company had in view of the COVID-19
posted a net loss of Rs 8.2 crore pandemic. As per a statement,
in the same quarter of previous it will continue to monitor any
fiscal as per its regulatory material changes to future
filing. Net revenue rose to Rs economic conditions. BASF,
1,769.7 crore in April-June India has resumed operations
quarter of fiscal year 2020-21 in a phased manner in line with
from Rs 1,613.7 crore in the directives from the authorities.

NFL reports all- Best Agrolife
time high total targets Rs 1,517 Cr
fertilizer sales turnover

National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL) has reached Best Agrolife Ltd, a leading global player in the
all-time high total fertilizer sales of 18.79 lakh agrochemicals sector and one of India's largest
MT in April-July, 2020. With this, NFL has manufacturers of agro-inputs, is aiming to achieve
touched a new high of 18.79 lakh MT in April- Rs 1,517 crore turnover by FY2022. It is also
July, 2020 showing a growth of more than 20 targeting a net profit of over Rs 677 crore. The
per cent than the previous best of 15.64 lakh company’s long-term focus areas include capital
MT recorded during the same period last year. allocation, earning, and growth. In addition,
This includes the sale of Urea, Diammonium there have been noteworthy Federation of Indian
phosphate (DAP), Muriate of potash (MoP), Industries’ (FIIs) acquisitions recently led by
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK), leading names like Resonance Opportunities Fund,
Single Super Phosphate (SSP) and Bentonite Elara Opportunities Fund Ltd, Nomura Singapore
Sulphur during the said period. The sale of the Ltd ODI, and more. Towards capital allocation, the
Company's core product Urea has registered a company is now focusing on enabling free cash flow
sale of 15.87 lakh MT higher by 17 per cent than generation. Under this, the company aims to offer
the CPLY. NFL produces urea at its five plants consistent dividend pay-outs to its shareholders. It
located at Nangal and Bathinda in Punjab, plans to add new innovative speciality molecules
Panipat in Haryana and two plants at Vijaipur and improve the product basket. These initiatives
in Madhya Pradesh. With all these products, will increase the percentage of value-added product
the company has recorded the highest-ever sale offerings as well as enhance the overall margins.
of 57 lakh MT in 2019-20, continuously for the
fifth time in a row.

14 S TA RT U P S N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

BigHaat secures VeGrow raises
$2M from Beyond $2.5M seed funding
Next Ventures
Agritech startup VeGrow has raised $2.5 million
Bengaluru based agritech start-up BigHaat has in seed funding led by Matrix Partners and Ankur
raised $2 million in its Series A round of funding Capital to invest in technologies that will improve
led by Japanese investor Beyond Next Ventures. farming. It will also make the supply chain more
The round also saw participation from Rockstud efficient and help farmers achieve income stability.
Capital and existing investor Ankur Capital Better Capital, Snapdeal founder Kunal Bahl and
and few angel investors. The start-up intends to Rohit Bansal’s Titan Capital, ITC’s agribusiness
strengthen its data and technology offerings, scale CEO Sanjiv Rangrass, Cloudnine founder Rohit
up its marketing team and also strengthen its MA, Livspace founder Ramakant Sharma, and
supply chains to support the next round of growth. Park+ founder, Amit Lakhotia, also participated
It has set a target of reaching 10 million farmers in in the funding round. VeGrow was founded in
the next two years. Founded in 2015 by Sateesh April 2020 by Praneeth Kumar, Shobhit Jain,
Nukala, Sachin Nandwana and Raj Kancham, the Mrudhukar Batchu and Kiran Naik. The company
start-up aims to digitise the agricultural input works with small-hold farmers on a profit-sharing
ecosystem by providing farmers with information model and aids them across the various stages of
through technology and data science. The the farming cycle using technology. Its primary
company also provides technology-led inputs to business is to provide farmers access to high-
agro-manufacturers about demand-supply issues, quality farm inputs, monitor their adherence to
market feedback and new business opportunities. best farming practices and enable them to sell
their harvest to the right buyers for the right price.

Govt to boost agri-start-ups under RKVY

The central government is encouraging start-ups Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to promote innovation and
in the agricultural sector to contribute directly agripreneurship by providing financial support
and indirectly for enhancing the income of and nurturing to the incubation ecosystem.
farmers. As part of this initiative, the Innovation These start-ups are in various categories such
Development of Entrepreneurship in Agriculture as agro-processing, artificial intelligence, digital
(IDEA) has been launched under Rashtriya Krishi agriculture, farm mechanization, waste to wealth,
dairy, fisheries etc. Under the scheme there will be
agripreneurship orientation, seed stage funding
of Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture
and Allied Sectors Rejuvenation (RAFTAAR)
Agribusiness Incubators’ (R-ABI) incubatees
and idea/pre-seed stage funding for start-ups.
A total of 346 start-ups in the agriculture and
allied sectors are being funded for a sum of Rs
3671.75 lakh in this phase, which will be released
in instalments. These start-ups will be trained for
two months at 29 agribusiness incubation centres
spread across India.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com T E C H N O L O G Y  N E W S 15

NDDB launches NABL-
accredited honey testing lab

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar lab will test honey as per the norms specified by Food
inaugurated India’s first honey testing lab set up Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI),
by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) the food safety regulator. The quality honey will
at Anand. The lab is accredited by National boost exports and ensure better rates for farmers,”
Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration said Tomar. He added that this move will contribute
Laboratories (NABL), Gurugram, Haryana. The to India’s efforts to double farmers’ income by 2025.
testing lab will unlock potential for apiarists to not
just get domestic business but also take advantage
of exports to the US and Europe. Till recently, the
exporters were required to ship their samples to
Germany for testing. The development comes after
the National Bee Board’s decade-long wait for a
government testing facility for honey. “Standard
quality testing and certifications are the primary
requirements and preconditions for exporting honey
to the markets such as the US and Europe. The new

DCR launches IVRI launches new
‘Cashew India’ app FMD testing kit

The Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR) A team of scientists at Indian Veterinary Research
located in Puttur district of Karnataka, has Institute (IVRI) located in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
developed an app called ‘Cashew India’ for state has developed a new mono-clonal antibody
farmers and other stakeholders of cashew in and recombinant antigen based ELISA, a rapid
India. Available in 11 languages, the app can testing kit that can be used to detect deadly foot-
be downloaded from the Google Play Store. and-mouth disease, FMD across various species.
Mohana GS, Senior Scientist at DCR, has The disease is a highly infectious viral disease
conceptualised and designed this app. The app of all cloven-hoofed animals including cattle,
gives comprehensive information on cashew buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs. The presently
grafts, nursery, cultivation, plant protection, used diagnostics, Differentiating Infected from
post-harvest processing, market information, Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) are species-specific
e-market, and stakeholders such as farmers, and need to be optimized for each animal species.
researchers, developmental agencies and The new kit, however, is easy to perform, rapid and
processors at one place. It is possible to record sensitive. It can be performed at room temperature
the expenditure, observations and data of the without an incubator. The kit will be useful for
cashew farm in the app. Real-time chatting screening of serum against FMD antibodies for
and an e-speak button which enables the app DIVA application. The kit is available in the form
to read text aloud are the other key features. of recombinant antigen coated modules and all
ready-to-use reagents packaged in one box for 90
serum samples, and to be stored at 4°C.

16 T E C H N O L O G Y  N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

EnviroLogix UPL opens R&D centre in
launches on- North Carolina
site multiple
Mycotoxin United Phosphorus Ltd (UPL), an Indian multinational
testing kit agriculture company, is opening a new, state-of-the-art
research and development (R&D) hub at the Research Triangle
EnviroLogix Inc., a Portland, Park in Durham, North Carolina. Called the OpenAg Center, it
Maine based leading global will be located at 5 Laboratory Drive in the Alexandria Center
agricultural diagnostic for AgTech, a multi-tenant campus. The campus serves the
technology company has regional AgTech ecosystem with a 45,000 sq. ft laboratory
launched TotalTox testing space. Entrepreneurs and innovators are already being invited
kit, an on-site testing solution to work with UPL’s global business to ‘test, refine, scale and
for mycotoxins in grain and launch’ technologies. A project submission form can be
grain co-products. The kit was found on the centre’s homepage. According to UPL, it will
developed to help buyers of grain use the centre to leverage its advanced R&D capabilities in
to improve their mycotoxin risk partnership with other innovation-based companies to create
management capabilities, while new sustainable agriculture solutions. The OpenAg Center will
simultaneously increasing their combine the agility and innovation of start-ups with a flexible
mycotoxin testing operational partnership model. It will leverage UPL’s expertise in field
efficiency. The testing kits development and registration, R&D and Intellectual Property
test for aflatoxin, vomitoxin, (IP). It is expected to fuel a faster, more efficient process of
fumonisin and zearalenone are getting technologies tested, approved and applied in the field.
currently available as single
strip kits or in a comb format. Pioneer launches mobile
TotalTox offers a combination tool to identify diseases
of accuracy, speed and protocol & deficiencies in crops
simplicity for testing multiple
mycotoxins, which is a Pioneer, the Iowa, USA-based
breakthrough when compared to agriculture products major has
market alternatives. By creating released a major update to its
a single testing device out of the Pioneer Seeds App with a new tool
individual strips, the benefit of called ‘Threat ID’. This technology
a common and simple protocol delivers farmers access to cutting-
is amplified, resulting in a faster edge pest, disease and deficiency
time to result and a user-friendly identification technology for their
experience. The tests are read crops in the palm of their hands.
on the QuickScan system all Threat ID, powered by Plantix, a mobile crop advisory app,
at once; results are captured allows farmers to detect issues impacting their fields by simply
in data logs and PDF reports taking one crop photo. It then recognizes the specific patterns
providing source traceability. left behind by pests and provides an immediate identification of
the most likely pest or disease threats and nutrient deficiencies.
Threat ID boosts the efficiency of scouting and allows farmers
to schedule follow-up consultations with their local Pioneer
agronomist. The tool employs modelling technology that covers
30 crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum. With
an ever-growing catalogue of 20 million photos spanning the
entire life cycle of crops, Threat ID provides accurate results
throughout the entire growing season.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O V E R S TO RY 17

COVER STORY

SUPPLY CHAIN

reinvents for better

The Government of India has always given a special status to the agriculture
sector as it is considered the front wheel of the Indian economy. It has
introduced various policies and financial schemes to boost the agro sector
and the supply chain in tow. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries
(MoFPI) is focused on the ‘Farm to Fork’ model. Crops will be grown depending
on the market demand, which will help increase the farmers’ income. Such
an organized supply chain will also reduce the loss of perishable goods.
AgroSpectrum examines the various options at our disposal to improve the
existing supply chain in the country.

18 C O V E R S TO RY AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

The agri supply chain had been largely Earlier, the government had amended the
unaffected by the ongoing pandemic Essential Commodities Act by lifting restrictions
crisis. After the classification of the on vital commodities such as cereals, pulses,
agri sector under essential services by oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes. This
the government, companies involved with the also meant that farmers could sell their produce
business have scaled-up their operations. Many directly to processors, aggregators, wholesalers,
tech-driven startups have joined hands with these large retailers and exporters across state borders.
companies to digitally equip their operations for
better maintenance and output. Technology has The new move was welcomed by the farmers
been adopted right from logistical, transportation and food business operators as it provided a win-
to warehousing and cold storage. Every aspect win situation for both of them. From the farmers’
has been linked with tech driven systems for the side, they can get rid of the old mandi model
sake of speed and better results. where most of the farmers faced major issues
such as low returns, logistical issues, wastage
In order to enhance the supply chain, etc. From the procurer side, they could suspend
Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of dealing with the middlemen as they purchase
India stated, “There is a need to further enhance directly from the cultivators. This means buying
the supply chain in the agricultural domain of at lower rates and provision of high quality
the country and this will ultimately increase the logistics, which leads to substantial reduction in
average share of farmers in the retail prices.” food loss.

Das further said that there is a great need to India has around 7,500 large wholesale
create wider rural roads, better communication farm markets and another 25,000 small weekly
facilities and both of these should be coupled markets collectively known as mandis. Many
with easier access to micro credit. These farmers acoss the country were not exposed to
developments will eventually help the farmers to other selling options other than mandis. But
get better output from their produce. owing to the current COVID-19 situation, most
of these mandis were closed or operated for few
New Agri reforms only. Hence, farmers were not able to move their
produce, which meant upsurge in the amount of
Responding to the difficulties that farmers food wastage.
faced to sell their produce during lockdown, the
government of India carved a new Agri reforms The current step will not only go to increase
that focuses on freeing farmers and agri supply the private investment in the agri business but
chain companies from major hurdles. concurrently, it will also enhance the food supply
chain further because of big players joining the
Commenting on the new move of the sector.
government, Anuj Todi, Business Head-India,
Pioneering Ventures said, “Steps taken by the Acknowledging the move, Puneet Sethi, Co-
government will definitely go to improve farmers’ Founder, Farmpal said, “This is a positive and
livelihood and moreover, these will enhance bold step taken by the government, which will
the supply chain making it stronger and more benefit both cultivators and procurers as well.
flexible. Recently announced agri infra fund by Farmers can now focus on producing high quality
the government will certainly assist in creating produce while procurers can concentrate on
a larger network of temperature controlled enhancing the supply chain with technology to
storage and transport facilities, which will further reduce the wastage of produce.”
enhance our exports and strengthen our supply
chain, with reduction in loss of food.” In the second step the government has
promulgated Farmers’ Produce Trade and

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O V E R S TO RY 19

Commerce Ordinance, 2020, which aims to certification during the process of cultivation
create ‘One India, One Agriculture Market’. or rearing, or at time of delivery. The farming
With this farmers can sell their produce outside agreement may be linked with insurance or credit
regulated mandis with no restrictions on inter- instruments under schemes of central and state
state and intra-state trade. governments or any financial service provider.
This will ensure risk mitigation and credit flow
Currently, farmers face several obstacles in to farmers or sponsors or both. The Ordinance
marketing their produce owing to the restrictions prohibits sponsors from acquiring ownership
on farmers selling agri-produce outside notified rights or making permanent modifications on
market yards, which are governed by the a farmer’s land or premises under a farming
Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) agreement.
legislations of respective states. Under these
legislations, farmers can sell their produce only Put simply, it provides a legal basis to the
to registered licensees and agents of the state existing practice of contract farming in India’s
governments, who often play the role of informal agriculture and allied sectors. This move will
money lenders. further strengthen the supply chain as now
the farmers don’t need to think about logistics
The ordinance aims to create an ecosystem because that will be taken care of by the sponsors
where farmers and traders enjoy freedom of with their tech driven supply chain.
choice of sale and purchase of agri-produce. It
also opens up additional trading opportunities Demand-driven value chain
outside the APMC market yards to help farmers
get remunerative prices due to enlarged Usually, Indian agri-sector is mostly working
competition. This also means that traders on a production-driven model in which farmers
have to equip their supply chain with the latest are given free hand to grow commodities of their
technology to reduce wastage of goods and also to choice and the quantity they prefer. In return,
increase the shelf life of their processed products. the farmers most of the time ended up cultivating
excess amounts of commodity putting pressure
“This will open up a huge market from both on the supply chain and companies for the
farmers and buyers with massive options to consumption and this comes back to farmers as
choose from. Farmers especially post-harvest the boomerang with their returns slashing down
will have complete flexibility in terms of sale and drastically.
purchase respectively. Most importantly, this
landmark step will ensure higher farmer incomes So there is a need to promote development
and an overall improvement in their livelihoods of inclusive plate-to-farm value chains through
while benefiting the struggling agriculture sector public-private-producer partnerships by
overall,” said Sethi. combining the strengths of all stakeholders to
support India’s resources. This will not only
In its third step, the government has crafted decrease pressure on the consumer companies
a Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) but will also ease up the work of the supply chain
Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services to a great extent.
Ordinance, 2020. The ordinance will provide a
national framework on farming agreements that Due to COVID-19, there is a strong shift in the
protects and empowers farmers to engage with diet pattern of Indian consumers and their diet
agri- business firms, processors, wholesalers, composition has now shifted from cereal-based
exporters or large retailers for farm services and diet to the one, which has more fruits, vegetables,
sale of future farming produce at a mutually milk and meat. Since all of these are perishable
agreed remunerative price framework in a commodities, the pressure comes directly on
fair and transparent manner and for matters the supply chain especially the warehousing
connected therewith or incidental thereto. facilities where such produce is stored either for
distribution or for further transportation.
As a part of this agreement, farmers and
sponsors work on mutually agreed terms and Warehousing is now seen as an integral part
conditions for supply, quality, standards and of the supply chain where goods are not only
price of farming produce as well as terms related stored for safekeeping but also where other value
to supply of farm services. These terms and processes are implemented, thereby, minimizing
conditions may be subjected to monitoring and wastage and costs. In fact, warehousing in

20 C O V E R S TO RY AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

agriculture is part of the larger agricultural and warehouses in India but what we need
ecosystem. is scientific warehousing to reduce the food
loss percentage. With the help of scientific
However, just like agriculture, the warehousing, the post-harvest losses can be
warehousing market is local, unorganized reduced to a great extent and can provide an
and fragmented. Many small and medium interim solution to the ‘Food Security Problem’
landholding farmers use the services of public of India, which is a major social challenge for our
warehouses, also known as third party logistic society,” said Anuj Todi.
companies. These warehouses help farmers by
storing and, sometimes, in packing and shipping To counter the challenges posed by COVID
produce. -19 pandemic, the Indian agriculture sector
would need more modern and professionally
“There is no shortage of cold storages

Indian Railways adapts to new normal

Indian Railways (IR) is one of the prominent modes of transportation in the country and it forms
a very special position in the agri supply chain of India. It is the first time in the history of Indian
Railways that they had to cancel their operations for almost two and half months due to COVID-19.
However, post lockdown also IR is operating with limited passenger trains and this will continue till
September 30, as per the draft notification released by the Ministry of Railways.

Indian Railways, the world’s fourth largest rail network, seems to be responding snappily to the
times. IR might have suspended all passenger trains on March 22 but the country’s lifeline has been
far from idle. It has been busy reinventing itself so that its massive infrastructure — spread across
a staggering 64,000 km, over 7,000 stations, and with 12 lakh employees — can be honed into a
valuable tool during the pandemic.

With roads blocked, the entire burden of running the agri supply chain fell on the IR but it
surprisingly, performed its task to the finesse. Numbers suggest that IR performance is remarkable
with moving 4.58 million tonnes of food grains from April 1-22, compared to 1.82 million tonnes over
the same period last year.

However, now the bigger challenge is can the India Railways retain the way it has worked till
now? The ongoing crisis also provides an opportunity to IR to revamp its entire freight business
model. It could, for instance, tie up with road transport to offer seamless cargo movement, and
incorporate sophisticated facilities to cover a wider range of goods, including perishable fruits and
vegetables. The challenge will be to establish timetabled long-distance trains and assured delivery
times even after passenger trains are back on track.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O V E R S TO RY 21

managed agri tech set-ups, which can address There is a need to further
the challenges posed by the pandemic. The enhance the supply chain in
proposed exercise to map and geotag agricultural the agricultural domain of the
warehouses, cold storage, and other inventory country and this will ultimately
storages by the National Bank for Agriculture and increase the average share of
Rural Development (NABARD) would result in farmers in the retail prices.”
greater transparency and efficiency in the sector
and should be taken at a war footing to mitigate - Shaktikanta Das,
the impact of COVID-19 in the agricultural sector. Governor, Reserve Bank of India

The agri warehousing sector has been so This is a positive and bold step
far managing the proceedings smoothly and taken by the government, which
there haven’t been any significant instances of will benefit both cultivators and
agri supply chain disruption from anywhere in procurers as well. Farmers can
the country. That’s a huge achievement for the now focus on producing high
industry, which just goes on to show that the quality produce while procurers
Indian commodity warehousing industry has can concentrate on enhancing
come of age and that now it can assume more the supply chain with technology
responsibilities going forward to make up for the to reduce the wastage of
lost time due to the lockdowns. produce.”
- Puneet Sethi, Co-Founder, Farmpal
Traceability gaining traction
There is no shortage of cold storages and
Traceability has become a latest trend in warehouses in India but
the agri supply chain because it enables the what we need is scientific
companies, traders, wholesalers to keep a track warehousing to reduce the
on its inventory and build it or reduce it as per food loss percentage. With the
the demand. Traceability can be added to the help of scientific warehousing,
value chain of farming via farm analytics and OQ the post-harvest losses can be
coding of the agriculture produce, thus helping reduced to a great extent and
organizations and/or farmers adhere to various can provide an interim solution
certificate compliances globally. to the ‘Food Security Problem’
of India, which is a major social
This type of system not only determines challenge for our society”.
traceability of farm produce but even helps in - Anuj Todi, Business Head, India,
early decision making due to harvest prediction Pioneering Ventures
and follows ups on the package of practices
defined for agriculture and monitored through identification tags and labels with remote sensing
the web and mobile applications. It also enables capabilities. All these data points are collated
management cost, operational efficiency and and stored on a cloud server and further data
market expansion for companies due to processes algorithms are run to help operators obtain
followed which are transparent and defined. valuable farm insights.
Traceability solutions help remove out of date
product losses, lower inventory levels, and raise It is clearly visible that the country’s agri-
the effectiveness of logistics and distribution supply unit is working efficiently even in these
operations. times when most of the business lines have
collapsed. It is mainly because of the strong
Traceability initiatives rely on technologies backing by the government and coupled with the
to provide efficient and accurate ways to track innovation and tech driven solutions that keep
and trace products and their movement across this line strong and rolling. However, now the
the supply chain. This includes technology for bigger challenge for the agri supply chain is to
product identification, information capture, retain this speed and stay updated whenever it
analysis, storage and transmission of data is required. With the government giving special
as well as overall systems integration. These status to the agri sector and agri supply chain, the
interconnected systems also include hardware future's looking brighter and vibrant for the units
such as measuring/sensing equipment, involved in the supply chain business.

Nitin Konde

22 WA R E H O U S I N G AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Scientific warehousing
is need of the hour

Agricultural warehousing accounts for 15 per cent of the warehousing market
in India and is estimated to be worth Rs 8,500 crore. In recent times, the
Indian warehousing segment has evolved significantly, resulting in a gradual
metamorphosis from the traditional concept of go-downs, which gradually moved
to becoming modern formats of warehouses. Use of technology will play vital role
in the growth of agriculture warehousing.

Though warehousing is an independent market, who run professionally and also provide
economic activity, yet is closely linked ancillary services around warehousing.
with production, consumption and
trade. Warehousing is now seen as an According Federation of Indian Chambers of
integral part of the supply chain where goods are Commerce and Industry (FICCI) study scientific
not only stored for safekeeping, but also where warehousing is the need of the hour and is one
other value processes are implemented, thereby solution that can address the problem of wastage
minimizing wastage and costs. during storage to a large extent. With the help
of scientific warehousing, the post-harvest
India has total agri warehousing capacity losses can be reduced to a great extent and can
of around 91 million tonnes at present to store provide an interim solution to the ‘Food Security
and conserve such large quantities with state Problem’ of India, which is a major social
agencies owning 41 per cent of the capacity challenge for our society.
and the balance distributed among private
entrepreneurs, cooperative societies, farmers, Similarly, in a marketplace model, intelligent
etc. Agricultural warehousing accounts for 15 call centres have an extremely important role to
per cent of the warehousing market in India play particularly during a crisis like COVID-19.
and is estimated to be worth Rs 8,500 crore. In Smart call centres when integrated with real-
recent times, the Indian warehousing segment time data embedded in Artificial Intelligence
has evolved significantly, resulting in a gradual (AI) help in real-time tracking of the facilities,
metamorphosis from the traditional concept of providing error-free results on the status of the
go-downs, which gradually moved to becoming warehouse and the products stored within as well
modern formats of warehouses. This demand as in transit. A virtual customer service network
shall be driven by a combination of growing is the need of the hour because it will enhance
GDP, maturing industry segments, GST the service standards and will also help in raising
implementation, rising external trade and share the bar on scientific storage by eliminating the
of organized retail. paperwork and providing the evidence of the
calling details. Ramesh Doraiswami, MD & CEO,
However, warehousing is perceived to be National Bulk Handling Corporation (NBHC)
inadequate and unorganised in India. More than said , “The percentage of scientific warehouses
40 per cent of the agricultural warehouses are and professionally managed warehouses is
run by state enterprises such as Food Corporation less than 5 per cent out of total capacity of
of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation warehousing available in India. Use of advanced
(CWC) and 17 State Warehousing Corporation technology more needed in cold storage facilities
(SWCs). About 30 per cent of the warehousing in India as semi- perishable and perishable agri
capacity is held by unorganised small go- down commodities need temperature controlled and
players. These unorganised warehouses lack scale digitised cold storage facility.”
and quality. On the other hand, there are a few
large national-level players in the warehousing In order to work efficiently, warehousing
companies are going through a digital

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com WA R E H O U S I N G 23

Latest technologies used in warehousing across the world

EDI Communication : In the near future, big data will be making it's way into the warehouse; and a
digital technology is known as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is helping to continue this trend. This
is a technology that allows for the sharing of documents, with a shared format between two computer
systems. Popular uses for EDI include sharing of purchase orders, shipping orders, stock transfer
receipts, shipping advice, and inventory advice.

Drones : The warehouse seems an unlikely place for a drone, but they can aid tasks that might otherwise
require a large number of man-hours. One such task is barcode scanning. Imagine a warehouse stacked
with inventory: this makes the barcodes on the top shelves difficult to reach & read, and often requires the
use of a forklift, cage and staff to scan them. Drones, on the other hand, can count as much stock in two
days than an 80-strong team, complete with lift trucks and handheld scanners, can achieve in three days.

RFID : Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology already in use in warehousing, and it’s
getting more sophisticated. This ensures greater stock visibility and transparency, which offers ease

of inventory as well as a reduction in theft. Efforts are on to combine drone tech with RFID to further

automate the inventory process.

Warehousing on demand : Not every company can afford to own or lease warehouses full time. The
air bnb concept is catching up in warehousing, which means that any warehouse with spare space can

advertise it for the use of customers, who need space at short notice.

Cloud storage : Cloud storage can be beneficial to warehouses by helping in cutting down on
maintenance, infrastructure, and labour costs that come from the installation and upgrading of

warehouse management systems. Many warehouses are still using old and out-of-date systems, and

switching to cloud technology will both save costs as well as self-update.

Source: Dr Venkat Maroju, Chief Executive Officer, SourceTrace

transformation. There are a great number of The platform aims to empower farmers, and
things that are done easier and faster in digital their organizations to gain freedom from the
mode. This transformation to digital not only tedious activity of accessing warehouses, finance
future-proofs the companies but also ensures and other post-harvest services. For corporates
that the supply chains operate at peak efficiency, and other private players, the tech-enabled
which is great for customers and businesses alike. platform facilitates an end-to-end process for
warehousing of agri-commodities.
In India, many agri-tech startups have raised
funding from investors. These startups are Anand Chandra, Executive Director, Arya
providing solutions to warehousing stakeholders. said, “Apart from democratizing the available
It also enables users to sell their stored produce on agri storage infrastructure in the country, a
the platform by accessing multiple buyers across unique proposition offered by A2ZGodaam
the country with complete assurance on quality. is the integration of the platform with other
ancillary services along with financial and market
One-stop comprehensive digital linkages. The service will help all users for a
platform seamless experience regarding warehousing and
other post-harvest services.” Indian agriculture
Recently, Omnivore and Lightstone Aspada warehousing industry is going through
backed post-harvest agri-tech startup Arya transformation in infrastructure and technology.
Collateral has launched A2ZGodaam. It is a one- Implementation of digital technologies will play
stop comprehensive digital platform for search, a vital role in smooth running of warehouses, as
discovery and fulfilment of warehousing for the 21st-century rolls on.
farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs),
corporates and other stakeholders like traders Dipti Barve
and small aggregators.  [email protected]

24 C O L D S TO R A G E AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Providing remunerative
prices to growers

India has cold stores majorly for potato and few other crops. There are only 20-30K

reefers, against a demand of about 100K for frozen food products and pharma.

The cold chain for more perishable fruits, vegetables and flowers is almost

missing. Lack of farm level pre-cooling reefer and information asymmetry are big

issues plaguing the industry.

Current cold storage capacity in India expected to grow over the projected period. The
totals 31.8 million tonnes. Growth has organized retail supports different outlet formats
averaged 3 to 4 per cent over the past 10 depending on the proximity from residential
years, and 10.5 million tonnes of space and consumption cluster and spending power.
was created in the last seven years. Ownership is The offline mode of the organized retailing
mainly in the private sector, with the public and is categorized into convenience stores,
cooperative sectors only comprising 10 per cent supermarket, and hypermarket based on the
of capacity. The sector’s value is estimated at $6.5 product range and surface coverage.
billion and market growth has averaged between
15 and 20 per cent this pace is expected to be The market demand is expected to increase
consistent over the next five years. in upcoming years as refrigerated warehouse
continue to get automated. The warehouse
Currently, India has 6,300 cold storage automation comprises cloud technology, robots,
facilities unevenly spread across the country, conveyor belts, truck loading automation, and
with an installed capacity of 30.11 million tonnes. energy management.
These are mostly used for storing potatoes.
However, the market is gradually getting According to a November 2019 CARE Ratings
organized and focus towards multi-purpose report, the total storage capacity available with
cold storages is rising. More than 50 per cent of official government agencies like the Food
the cold storage facilities in India are currently Corporation of India, the Central Warehousing
concentrated in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Corporation and state agencies was at 862.45
lakh tonnes as of May 2019, but this was mainly
Indian cold storage market is expected to in the form of covered go-downs. Cold storage
grow at a CAGR of 16.09 per cent by 2020 driven facilities were dominated by the private sector,
by the growth in the organized retail, Indian fast according to the report. The total cold storage
food market, and food processing industry and capacity was estimated at 32 million tonnes
e-commerce sectors. Cold storage market in India with the requirement estimated at nearly
is expected to be worth $ 8.57 billion by 2020. double of the availability. The decision to
catalogue warehouses and expand the number
The retail sector in the country is increasingly of warehouses comes at a time when India has
getting organized. This trend among others is record food grain production but insufficient
expected to augment the cold storage market avenues to store them in manner to protect them
demand in the coming years. Government against rot.
policies to de-regulate the entry of foreign player
has increased the Foreign Direct Investment Cold storage in India comes with its own set
(FDI) in the organized retail sector. of problems — high initial investment, availability
of space, interruptions in electricity supply being
Consumers are increasingly purchasing some of them. In order to provide economical
frozen foods from the organized retail stores. and eco-friendly solutions of cold storage,
With the increased demand for the chilled and startups like Ecozen, Coldstar have developed
frozen foods and growth of the organized retail technology backed cold storage solutions.
sector the demand for the cold storage market is

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O L D S TO R A G E 25

Solar - powered cold storages Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to set up a ‘Kisan
Rail’ through the public-private-partnership
Ecozen Solution’s ecoConnect is an online (PPP) mode for a cold supply chain to transport
platform that seamlessly connects farmers and perishable goods. The cargo centre at Lasalgaon
markets, ensuring quality and consistency. It helps is being developed under the same pattern
value for the commodity. It is a B2B platform of PPP. The centre is under construction at
wherein the company is listing the sellers of Lasalgaon in Nashik district.
specific perishable commodities and enable them
to connect with the organised aggregators and The project is being developed by Container
supply chain companies. The platform is cold Corporation of India Limited through a CSR
chain enabled and will offer an option of long initiative. Another project is commissioned at
distance markets and helping them to earn more. Ghazipur Ghat (Uttar Pradesh), New Azadpur
(Delhi) and Raja ka Talab (Uttar Pradesh).
Devendra Gupta, founder of Ecozen
Solutions said, “Portable infrastructures should Agri- infra fund
be promoted and considered for government
funding and subsidies. Also, while we are offering The recent announcement of the Agriculture
such equipment on lease, it is difficult to recover Infrastructure Fund will help cold storage
these assets in case of a default; a mechanism industry for expansion. It is a medium - long
similar to auto industry can be developed it term debt financing facility for investment in
would be very helpful”. viable projects for post-harvest management
infrastructure and community farming assets
Geo-tagging of cold chain storages through interest subvention and credit guarantee.
The duration of the scheme shall be from FY2020
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had to FY2029 (10 years). Under the scheme, Rs 1
said in her budget 2020 speech that National lakh crore will be provided by banks and financial
Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development institutions as loans with interest subvention
(NABARD) was tasked in the union budget to of 3 per cent per annum and credit guarantee
geo-tag warehousing facilities and cold chain coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust
storages. India has an estimated capacity of 162 for Micro and Small Enterprises scheme for
million tonnes of agri-warehousing, cold storage, loans up to Rs 2 crore. The beneficiaries will
reefer van facilities etc. NABARD will undertake include farmers, Primary Agricultural Credit
an exercise to map and geo-tag them. Society, Marketing Cooperative Societies, Farmer
Producer Organisations, self-help groups, Joint
The government-owned NABARD, which Liability Groups, Multipurpose Cooperative
is in the process of geo-tagging all such Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Start-ups, and
warehousing and cold storage units, plans to Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored
upload this data on to an app to make it easily Public-Private Partnership Projects.
accessible to farmers. There are an estimated 5
lakh storage structures in the country, of which Opportunities
around 1-1.5 lakh are estimated to be compliant
with Warehouse Development and Regulatory India’s cold chain industry is still evolving
Authority (WDRA) norms. NABARD has and is operating way below the required capacity.
launched a pilot to geo-tag warehouses in three Large number of global food and retail chains are
districts each of Tamil Nadu and Haryana. The targeting the India markets. Cold storages are
data about the location of the warehouses as well very essential for extending the shelf life, avoiding
as the pictures is being captured. oversupply, reducing transport limitations during
peak period of production and for maintaining the
Temperature-controlled cargo centre quality of food products. The development of cold
storage industry has therefore an important role
The central government have announced to play in reducing the wastage of the perishable
about setting up temperature-controlled commodities and thus providing remunerative
perishable cargo centre for onion in Lasalgaon. prices to the growers.
The centre is being developed under central
government's scheme of the national cold supply Dipti Barve
chain for perishables. [email protected]

In the recent budget session, Finance Minister

26 S TA RT U P S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Bringing the market
closer to farmers

These startups have certainly started aligning traders with the farmers so

that both could be benefited. In a country like India, where it has a massive

population to feed such innovative ideas and thoughts backed with technology

can prove a real game changer. seems to be light at the end of the tunnel, as
several startups have come up with top notch and
Over the decades, the aim of the proven technology-driven solutions to drastically
government and those concerned reduce wastage food.
in the agriculture sector has been to
greatly boost the production of food
grain and other produce. However, according Owing to the unprecedented times when the

to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the global economy has been negatively disrupted,

United Nations (FAO), on an average, 194 million seeking the right solution in handling farm

Indians go hungry every day. produce and other agricultural inputs and

The FAO has pointed out that the root cause outputs have become critical. According to

of this issue is the massive food wastage in the the government statistics in India, fresh farm

country, which is estimated to be around $14 produce and fisheries sectors have witnessed a

billion, every year. In fact, the UN estimated that significant loss of around 8 to 18 per cent in 2018

more than 40 per cent of food produced in India owing to issues such as lack of labour, insufficient

is wasted due to supply chain issues before it returns from produce, disruption in supply

reaches the consumer. chain, among others. According to Datalabs (the

Unfortunately, the agriculture sector has research wing of Inc42, an Indian media covering

always been bogged down by innumerable the Indian startup scene), more than a thousand

logistical problems, which has resulted in vast startups have entered the agriculture sector to

amounts of food going waste. Immediate action provide innovative solutions through technology.

is warranted in this area. In recent times, there Farmers are looking forward to incorporating the

solutions, which they bring to the table.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S TA RT U P S 27

Did COVID-19 disrupt the themselves and their produce on the company’s
supply chain? website or on its App. The company then further
links the farmer and their produce to merchants,
The supply chain connected to the agricultural traders and corporate bodies, who are interested
sector was not on a strong foothold to begin in buying the produce. Once the transaction is
with. The COVID-19 crisis deteriorated it further. completed, the startup undertakes the logistics
By categorising agri-business as an essential of picking up the produce from the farmer’s
commodity, the government was clear on its doorstep and delivering it to the buyers’ godown
stance that they don’t want to disrupt the agri or warehouse.
business. However, confusion prevailed amongst
the local authorities as they failed to differentiate On similar lines, Farmpal has recently
between agri supply and other supply chains. launched its fourth collection centre in
This led to a greater level of confusion among Kopargaon, near Shirdi and concurrently, it has
states, hampering the supply chain. also launched a distribution centre in Wadgaon
Sheri in East Pune. The company deals in direct
This is where startups with their innovative buying or procuring produce from farmers and
tech driven solution stepped in to ease out the then reselling it to big traders through their
confusion. Though honing technological skills is distribution centres. In order to keep the supply
still a tough nut to crack for farmers, these young chain smooth, the company picks up the produce
budding entrepreneurs have made their products from farmers’ stations with the help of its own
extremely user friendly and easy to operate. logistical chain.

Startups provide solutions “In order to strengthen our supply chain, we
have decided to buy directly from the cultivators.
One of the key disruptions to take place is What makes us stand out from others is we
when startups took the markets to the farmers procure whatever farmer is offering to us be it
through technology instead of the other way grains, fruits or vegetables- they either bring their
around, where farmers had to struggle endlessly produce to our centres or we assist in picking
to transport their produce to the market. Startups it from their farm. This is because consumers
such as AgriBazaar, Oxen Farm Solution, are less picky at this time given the crisis,” said
Agribolo, Trringo etc. were among the first to Puneet Sethi, Director and co-founder, Farmpal.
provide this solution to farmers.
Amalgamation of traceability and AI
The subsequent disruption is definitely in
the pricing of the product. For several decades, Typically, these companies convince farmers
farmers and agro business operators have to join their network by assuring them prices
struggled to get appropriate value for their that are 15 per cent higher than what local
produce. Recently, many incidents have occurred agents would pay, thanks to the elimination of
wherein farmers have thrown their produce on commission. Farmers are kept updated about the
the roads as a mark of protest against dismal quantum of demand for a crop, current prices
prices offered to them. These prices would not offered and other details either via apps or by
even cover their production cost. Reacting to this SMS. Retailers and other wholesale customers
situation, AgriBazaar’s solution directly links can place orders through an App and are offered
farmers with the respective state governments better prices, scheduled deliveries and quality
and procurement companies. assurance. The produce is tracked at every stage,
thus offering product traceability.
“The ongoing situation has provided an
opportunity to Indian agri tech startups to Apart from procurement, these companies
showcase their worth by some creative and out are equipped with artificial intelligence (AI)
of the box innovative solutions. Logistics has technology, which can easily predict the future
always been a nagging issue in the agro sector. demand by analyzing data collected by them.
Hence, keeping this in mind, we have developed This, in turn, increases the shelf life of the
a product, which is providing an effective and produce and trims down the possibility food
timely solution to farmers and procurement wastage to almost nil. Hence, now it becomes
companies,” said Amith Agarwal, co-founder and easier for the suppliers and traders to transport
CEO, AgriBazaar. products to longer distances.

AgriBazaar enables farmers to register

28 S TA RT U P S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

“It takes a lot for a farmer to take his produce The ongoing situation has
to the market and then after cracking a deal provided an opportunity to
through a middleman, come back home with a Indian agri tech startups to
handful of pennies. If the produce is not sold showcase their worth by some
then he has to bear the logistical charges and creative and out of the box
also suffer food wastage. With direct purchase innovative solutions. Logistics
from cultivators and equipped with our AI and has always been a nagging
traceable technology, we are able to go an extra issue in the agro sector. Hence,
mile to file a buyer for the farmer. It is a win-win keeping this in mind, we have
situation for all- farmers to get healthy returns developed a product, which
and traders receive fresh produce, which can now is providing an effective and timely solution to
be transported to even the most remotest part farmers and procurement companies.”
of the country due to extended shelf life,” said
Thirukumaran Nagarajan, co-founder and CEO, - Amith Agarwal,
Ninjacart. co-founder and CEO, AgriBazaar

End-to-End monitoring In order to strengthen our
supply chain, we have decided
End-to-End monitoring of produce while to buy directly from the
in transit reduces the food wastage to a great cultivators. What makes us
extent. Practically, it looks a bit out of hand but if stand out from others is we
coupled with technology it becomes reality. Many procure whatever farmer is
startups have put their brain on this particular offering to us be it grains,
pain point and carved out a product that focuses fruits or vegetables- they
on end-to-end monitoring. either bring their produce
to our centres or we assist
Recently launched by farm-to-retail agri tech in picking it from their farm. This is because
startups Crofarm, Otipy work on an end-to-end consumers are less picky at this time given the
supply monitoring system, which enables them crisis.”
to directly connect their reselling partners to - Puneet Sethi, Director and Co-founder, Farmpal
customers. The company has tied up with 500
plus partner resellers across Delhi-NCR and With direct purchase from
currently provides its services to more than cultivators and equipped
50,000 consumers. Otipy with its vigorous with our AI and traceable
end-to-end supply chain network picks up technology, we are able to go
the produce from its partners and delivers to an extra mile to file a buyer
consumers’ doorstep. Working on this B2C for the farmer. It is a win-win
domain, the company not only helps its partners situation for all- farmers to get
to reduce the food wastage but also provides healthy returns and traders
fresh and healthy produce to its consumers. receive fresh produce, which
can now be transported to
FarmLink is another Mumbai-based agri tech even the most remotest part
startup that specialised in end-to-end supply of the country due to extended shelf life.”
chain for farm fresh fruits and vegetables. They
have created a B2B analytical tool that allows - Thirukumaran Nagarajan,
customers to track the location of produce from Co-Founder and CEO, Ninjacart
farm to shelf, with a secure payment mechanism
for the farmers. Another firm, Gramco Infratech, India, where it has a massive population to
focuses on the food grain supply chain, offering feed such innovative ideas and thoughts backed
a range of services in rural areas. Their services with technology can prove a real game changer.
cover the full value chain from inputs and A major hurdle for these firms is in creating
contract farming to finance and procurement. awareness about their expert services among
farmers because most of the Indian farmers are
These budding startups have certainly not that tech savvy or well informed about these
started aligning traders with the farmers so latest trends. Moreover, many of these startups
that both could be benefited. In a country like have limited funds and cannot afford massive
advertising campaigns.

Nitin Konde

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S P E A K I N G W I T H 29

“There is need to create Amazon
for agri commodity in India”

RAMESH scientific processes of warehousing is limited
DORAISWAMI, in our country because there is no concerted
move by government and other stakeholders for
MD & CEO, National developing more scientific warehousing. NBHC
Bulk Handling is major company, which operates in scientific
Corporation Ltd processes of warehousing and professionally
(NBHC) managed warehouses. The percentage of
professionally managed warehousing is less than
Handling over 160 commodities, in 5 per cent out of total capacity of warehousing
more than 9000 storage facilities available in India. Improper management of
across 900 locations pan India and logistics and warehousing of agri commodity
with over 38 Quality Assurance attributes significant losses in public and
Laboratories (QAL), Mumbai based private storages. Being efficient losses in
National Bulk Handling Corporation private sector storage are less compared to
(NBHC)’s services have been public sector. Due to unavailability of scientific
increasingly gaining prominence warehousing, inadequate cold storage facility
among clients, which span the and improper management of logistics, losses
entire ecosystem – farmers, traders, of agri commodity is up to 30 -40 per cent
banks, large corporate houses in India. There is urgent need to work on
and government agencies. In an infrastructure of warehousing in terms of large
interview with AgroSpectrum Ramesh silos and storages, more efficient mechanisation,
Doraiswami, MD & CEO, National scientific management of warehousing
Bulk Handling Corporation shares his temperature controlled cold storages and
views on status of warehousing in preservation treatment in India. Since 95 per
India. Edited excerpts; cent procurement of food crops is done by the
government, there is very less scope for private
What is the status of agricultural sector for procurement and warehousing.
warehousing in India?
How NBHC plays an important role in
In India, farming and agriculture are in commodity value chain?
much disaggregated form. Since India has more
small scale and marginal farmers, size of the We at NBHC (National Bulk Handling
farm land is small compared to other countries. Corporation Ltd) provide end-to-end solutions
Warehousing and logistics of agri commodity are in Commodity Management Ecosystem. It is
not mechanised. Handling of agri commodity India’s leading integrated agri commodity and
is bad, which needs to be changed. There is collateral management company. It facilitates
sufficient warehousing capacity in India since on a pan-India level, the procurement of agri
the requirement of warehousing is basic. The produce, warehousing, bulk handling, grading,
inspection and assaying, commodity care and
pest management, commodity management and
the disposal of commodities. The NBHC business
model has been designed to provide a platform to
the entire commodity value chain to reduce losses
and wastages, while gaining benefits of market
opportunity.

NBHC recognizes the critical role of efficient

30 S P E A K I N G W I T H AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

supply chain operations in the success of any and properly managed logistics facility i.e. from
related business and the importance of excellent farmers to food stores.
operational practices for it. The NBHC service
package enables best practices and processes What are the challenges and
to be implemented and enforced, supporting opportunities in agri warehousing?
efficient business functioning, and addressing
operational and financial efficiencies. As a result, The production of food crops and vegetables,
NBHC optimizes resource utilization, ensures fruits has increased at large level in our country
value delivery and mitigates business risks in a in recent years. Since India has become self-
transparent manner. NBHC’s association with sufficient in food grains, there is no need
45 banks (Public, Private, Co-operative, Regional of government’s participation in food crop
Rural Banks (RRBs), MNCs and financial procurement and warehousing. By participating
institutions) has provided standard warehousing in procurement and warehousing, government is
and funding solutions to farmers. hindering the growth of private sector. Recently,
government has procured 40 per cent of food
What are company’s future growth crops. But out of the 40 per cent, 10 per cent food
plans and strategies? grains is going to be wasted due to poor quality
warehousing and inefficient logistics, it is loss for
We have scope for growth in post-COVID-19 farmers as well as for consumers. Government
time. The recent reforms for post–harvest agri is denying an opportunity to private sector to
supply chain announced by the government create an efficient marketplace. Instead of direct
has created many opportunities. Since the large involvement in procurement and warehousing,
retailers are coming up in market, we have government should actively privatise this sector
ample of space to develop organised supply by making changes in policies. There is no need to
chain for agri commodities. The branded store the food grains in government’s warehouses.
commodities are entering in the market, which Private sector have efficient warehousing facilities
demands good quality and quantity, creates than government warehouses, which can save
need for better preservation facilities. This will the food grains from losses due to pest and poor
lead to development of professionally managed quality storages. As the government decides
warehouses and temperature controlled cold MSP (Minimum Support Price) for food grains
storages. Pest management, which is the and procures 40 per cent of food grains , private
one most important part of warehousing has sector don’t get any incentives in procuring
more opportunities for development. Our pest remaining 60 per cent due to market conditions,
management services has opportunities in food which creates obstacles in the investment of
storages, food factories , B2B industry involved private players in warehousing . There is need for
in food processing and large food retailers, which professionalism in warehousing industry.
needs hygiene and quality product.
What is the role of technology in
Quality certification of agri commodity is the processes of warehousing and
another facility, which is needed from contract commodity management?
farming to food store. We have accreditation
facility for agri commodity called as ‘Procom’, The technology has big role to play in
which provides the quality certification. The warehousing. Infrastructure of warehousing needs
tier II and III cities have more scope for quality to be developed. Use of advanced technology more
certification. We have huge opportunity to needed in cold storage facilities in India as semi-
explore in quality certification of agri commodity. perishable and perishable agri commodities need
temperature controlled and digitised cold storage
The recent ordinance of government facility. Since the cost of operating cold storage
about Agriculture Produce Market Committee is huge for farmers, the startups like Ecozen
(APMC) Act, which enables the farmers to sell Solutions are providing solar based cold storage
their produce anywhere across the country has facilities at farm gate. There is need to create
created big opportunity for NBHC to act as a Amazon for agri commodity in India.
service provider. Since NBHC has network of its
branches across the country, we can provide end Dipti Barve
to end solutions like the scientific warehousing [email protected]

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S U P P LY C H A I N 31

Traceability: Crucial
component of supply chain

VENKAT Who needs the most?
MAROJU,
First and foremost, we must be most
CEO, Source concerned with protecting unique produce
Trace Systems ecosystems globally. Whether we are talking
about mangoes from India, cocoa from Ghana,
To work effectively, a traceability olives from Spain or seafood from Indonesia,
system must be verifiable, result- every country wants to protect products
oriented, cost-effective and applied considered uniquely theirs.
consistently and fairly. The world is
continuously evolving and the field Several food safety outbreaks have been
of food value chain is exploding with reported over the last decade. We must
multiple cutting-edge technologies remember that one single food safety incident
such as traceable barcodes (GS1), affects the entire sector, let alone the costs of
DNA tracking, Microbiome, Internet of recalls and transportation, wastages. Consider a
Things (IoT) and more. few recent examples of salmonella outbreak from
onions in the USA or of spurious soybean seeds
Traceability solutions ensure that food in India, which failed to germinate.
or agricultural produce is traced and
tracked throughout the supply chain. The COVID-19 pandemic has put food
It is critical for food safety as well as companies across the sectors under immense
operational efficiency, as the entire chain of strain because of lack of visibility into their own
custody is tracked with precision. Traceability supply chains and the urgent need to upgrade
ensures that all functions in the food value their operational procedures. While information
chain are monitored right from the farm to the sharing is becoming a constant challenge,
end consumer. With real-time location tracking regulatory diligence is becoming increasingly
of a product at any stage of the food chain, critical for the food and beverage industry.
be it procurement, production, processing or With changing geopolitics and food trade laws,
distribution, essential goals of food safety and this will have a serious impact on global food
assured quality are met within the food and traders in the coming months. Hence, end-to-
beverage industry. It is not limited to product end traceability comes to the rescue of countries
recalls or ensuring animal health and food safety and supply chains to confidently attest that their
alone. Traceability helps slash costs, enhance foods or produce are unadulterated, safe and
value chain productivity and boosts brand equity. adheres to food safety norms.
Food majors are yet to explore the potential of
traceability. Understanding

Traceability, which essentially means
bringing transparency into a value chain, can
be understood in two different ways, namely,
tracking and tracing. Tracing determines the
history log of a product’s steering all through
the whole food chain. This data provides
information like the product's origin, movement
to processing, final packaging, among others,
for a single unit or a batch. Tracking pinpoints
the destination of a product, following its
path through the food chain from the point of
manufacturing to the final point of sale or point

32 S U P P LY C H A I N AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

of consumption. Akin to tracing, tracking also is homeworkers, hence in such cases, proxies like
possible for an individual item or a lot. In totality, geographic location is used or a trusted collective
tracing looks in reverse to a product’s origin, but point, such as a farming cooperative may be used.
tracking looks forward to its destination. It is useful for risk assessment and prioritizing
suppliers; it can aid a sustainable sourcing
Ensuring food safety strategy too.

As the food supply chain increasingly ● Transparency- This refers to the strategy
becomes complex and more global in scope, of how to disclose supply chain and sourcing
the importance of traceability has catapulted. information to stakeholders. Transparency is
Added complexity requires a robust system and defined by what data can be shared, to whom,
processes in place in case a food safety issue and how often and when. This is effective
occurs. If it does, traceability helps isolate the in demonstrating sustainability efforts and
source of the issue and the scope of any potential openness to stakeholders. Many companies
untoward incident. Adopting a traceability have used transparency in response to criticism,
product, will make your food company prepared where achieving full traceability is currently
in the case of a potential issue, with visibility impossible—for example sharing supply chain
and transparency all through the food chain. mapping for a palm oil supply chain. For
Traceability allows for a prompt response, example, Nike is the first company to publish
providing for diagnosis and mitigation, when its supplier list, pioneering supply chain
an incident occurs. The system rescues food transparency. The supplier map on its website
processors, and in a few cases, entire industries. offers more insight on its supplier base. While,
It helps companies recover faster, by restoring companies like Apple Inc, choose to publish
public confidence in the product, company, periodic reports that share real-time progress
industry, and food supply. Finally, traceability and performances.
can be useful in future preventive procedures to
secure the food chain. Implementing

Traceability, mapping While the value of traceability is beyond
and transparency doubt, businesses are now exploring ways of
implementing and overcoming the challenges
Of late, these concepts are gaining visibility involved. For example, traceability needs
in multi-tier supply chains. Let us look at these producers to have integrated systems in place for
briefly along with a few relevant applications. effective control, monitor daily operations and
stakeholders, who are willing to collaborate.
● Traceability- Traceability offers
chances to find supply chain inefficiencies, Having a technology partner that educates,
meet regulatory requirements, to connect and trains and walks you through the steps is critical
comprehend the actors in the upstream supply to the project’s success. In addition, the solution
chain, and obviously useful for storytelling to needs to be agile and work everywhere, be it
consumers about the provenance and journey of urban collection centres or rural farms. In niche
products, via scannable QR codes on packaging. technologies like these, the devil does lie in the
Including the context of sustainability, traceability details. How do you make sure that people with
forms the backbone of the system to verify social different educational backgrounds and exposure
and environmental claims (for example certified to technology find it easy to use the applications?
organic, carbon neutral, fair trade), while it must That is where we have put in an incredible
be authenticated by third party testing. amount of effort over the last seven years.

● Mapping- This is the process of forming Evolving
the complete overall picture of the companies,
suppliers, vendors etc. within the supply chain Traceability systems can meet the needs of
at every tier. Mapping does not show the flow an increasingly dynamic food chain. As most
of goods, but rather enables visibility of all the processes need to be standardized among
potential actors within each tier of the supply producers, suppliers, and distributors, to resolve
chain. This process is complicated to execute an issue in case of a conflict, traceability is a potent
with smallholder farmers, artisanal miners, or asset in the diagnosis and recovery efforts.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S U P P LY C H A I N 33

7400 FPOs adding value to
farmers’ prosperity

ANISH KUMAR,

Managing Trustee,
National Association
for Farmers Producer
Organisations (NAFPO)

At present, there are some challenges supporting FPOs, including 5-year tax breaks,
to the FPOs playing a larger role in in the Budget 2018, had brought FPOs in the
the agriculture supply chain such as spotlight. In the last decade, many farmers
lack of immediate access to primary have been successfully mobilized into FPOs, an
and secondary processing centres, estimated 7400 FPOs have been registered and
cold storages etc. However, the another 10,000 FPOs will be organised in the
government's recent policy push in its coming years. In recent years, FPOs have moved
Atmanirbhar Bharat Package has given beyond providing farmers with inputs and have
FPOs a booster shot to play a larger started to add value through aggregation and
role in the agriculture supply chain. primary processing before sale of commodities.

Agricultural marketing system in India Inspiring success stories
is witnessing rapid social, economic,
technological and policy related There are numerous examples of success
changes. They are all aligned towards stories where FPOs are the focal point of the
linking the primary producers (farmers) with supply chain for agri-businesses. For example,
the markets and hence increasing the efficacy of the Madhya Bharat Consortium of Farmers
the whole system. The linkage is a step towards Producer Company (MBCFPCL), which is based
unlocking income opportunities for farmers, in Madhya Pradesh, is a key aggregator and
particularly the smallholder farmers. With the supplier of agriculture commodities. It caters to
advent and resounding success of a few farmer both the age-old businesses like ITC and new-
collectives in the previous decade, Farmer age businesses like Kamatan Farm Tech, which
Producer Organisations (FPOs) have emerged in turn works with large format retail businesses
as the most preferred institutional mechanism like Reliance Retail etc. On the other hand,
for farmer prosperity by policy makers and GUJPRO, a state-level FPO in Gujarat, has carved
development agencies. a niche for itself by working with exporters
among local players in commodity specific value
Government paves the way chain.

The government’s push towards doubling Ram Rahim Pragati Producer Company Ltd
farmers’ income, and a slew of other measures (RRPPCL), based in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh is
another example. This FPO has pioneered the
participation of FPOs in the agri-commodity

34 S U P P LY C H A I N AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

futures market to hedge its produce against risk. and/or direct selling by FPOs.
It has also partnered with ‘Safe Harvest’, an Several FPOs across the country had adopted
agriculture retail business with Hyderabad as its
manufacturing base. Safe Harvest procures agri similar models to ensure essential commodities
commodities from RRPPCL and processes them remained accessible to the general public. Such
for direct sale in large format retail. instances have reminded us of the importance
FPOs play in the agriculture supply chain and
Adoption of technology their capability to negotiate new realities. FPOs
have provided farmers and the farm markets
Several agri-export businesses such as Gujarat with adaptability, which would be very difficult in
Ambuja Exports Limited have set up foundations normal circumstances.
(Gujarat Ambuja Foundation) to nurture,
incubate and support FPOs after realising their Challenges and solutions
(FPO's) potential to offer continuous, guaranteed
supply of agriculture commodities. FPOs have At present, there are some challenges to the
also started to supply produce to modern FPOs playing a larger role in the agriculture
e-commerce retail such as JioMart, Grofers, supply chain such as lack of immediate access to
Big Basket etc, either directly or via new-age primary and secondary processing centres, cold
agriculture start-ups like Kamatan Farm Tech, storages etc. However, the government's recent
Gramhal, Digital Green, among others. These policy push in its Atmanirbhar Bharat Package
startups are working towards the introduction has given FPOs a booster shot to play a larger
and further penetration of technology in the role in the agriculture supply chain. Introduction
agriculture sector for streamlining FPO's of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, direct
aggregation, processing, transportation and selling /marketing access, legalising contract
sale. By increasing the participation of FPOs farming, among others, has certainly come to the
in exercises higher up the value chain, greater rescue of both farmers and related stakeholders
participation of FPOs in the agriculture supply to a large extent.
chain is ensured.
The National Association for Farmer Producer
Offsetting COVID-19 Organisations (NAFPO) is a multi-stakeholder
owned organisation that works on creating an
Another example to highlight the role/ enabling ecosystem support to FPOs such as
contribution of FPOs in the agriculture supply capacity building initiatives, solving human
chain is - participation of FPOs in mitigating the resource challenges, policy advocacy etc. It
challenges of availability of easy access to food coordinates and integrates efforts at the level of
and horticulture produce during the COVID-19 meso action in mainstreaming farmer institutions
lockdown. The Tamil Nadu Consortium of and support in strengthening individual
Farmers Producer Company Ltd (TNCFPCL), FPOs. NAFPO has conducted several events,
is an apex, state-level producer company based consultations and webinars in partnership
in Erode, Tamil Nadu. TNCFPCL has played with the Federation of Indian Chambers of
a pivotal role in ensuring access to food and Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Small Farmers’
horticulture products to households in Tamil Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), National
Nadu. The lockdown had led to the shutdown of Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited
mandi, wholesale and retail markets. Farmers (NCDEX) and Indian Institute of Management
were left with no place to sell their produce. (IIM) Ahmedabad, among others.

TNCFPCL immediately reached out to NAFPO is on the advisory board of SFAC
farmers and farmer groups (FPOs), aggregated and NABARD. Recommendations by NAFPO
their produce and with the permission of the have been shared with NITI Aayog and the
state/ local government had developed 'Combo Government of India. NAFPO represented
packs' at different price points consisting of the voice of FPO community by consolidating
a range of essential commodities (kitchen suggestions during the COVID-19 lockdown
commodities). These combo packs were sold via and shared it with both central and several state
public distribution systems (PDS), co-operatives, governments. Recommendations were taken up
societies, town municipalities, city corporations by the various governments and this has led to
positive outcomes for FPOs.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S U P P LY C H A I N 35

Tech adoption will enhance
shelf life of dry fish

DR PARTHA P of the coastal areas. Let's attempt to address some
BISWAS, challenging issues of dry fish supply chains.

Incharge, Fisheries Livelihood of millions
Training & Culture Unit,
Simurali Krishi Kendra, Dry fish attracts greater demand during the
West Bengal yearly coastal fishing ban period when availability
of fresh fish in the market is low and the price of
A public-private initiative is necessary fish goes up. This industry is not getting adequate
for commercial introduction of opportunity to sell its products, not only in the
hygienic fish drier that runs on domestic, but also in the international market.
solar and biomass energy. If solar The government has not paid due attention
energy (warm air) is used during the to this commodity by providing financial and
day, biomass energy can be used marketing support with licenses to this sector.
during the night for drying fish. This
will improve microbiological and Furthermore, proper hygienic drying and
biochemical quality of dried fish scientific packaging are important issues that are
products. Adopting technology and crucial to the successful marketing of any new
innovations can go a long way in value-added product. These are, unfortunately,
mitigating the challenges faced by this missing in the dry fish industry.
very important industry.
Production hubs in West Bengal
Dry fish industry is one of the most
significant industries in rural coastal Among three maritime districts of West Bengal,
India. Sun drying of fishes is a simple namely, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas
but oldest traditional method of fish and Purba Medinipur, dry fish production
preservation throughout the Indian subcontinent. is limited mainly to Patharpratima, Baliara,
It is the cheapest and most popular method Namkhana and Kakdwip of South 24 Parganas.
of preservation of fish. Dried fish are in great
demand both within and outside the country and Sea fish drying practice is predominantly
form an important source of protein-rich food in found in Purba Medinipur such as Digha coast,
various forms. Sankarpur, Jaldha, Mandarmoni, Junput,
Petuaghat and few other places. Products reach
The consumption of dried fish is about 32 per the Egra regulated dry fish market, Purba
cent of the total marine landings in India. Indian Medinipur for auctioning. These dried fish
dry fish export contributes about 8 per cent of are later supplied to different markets such
all forms of fish exports. Dry fish production
provides employment opportunities, especially for
women, and generates income for the fisherfolk

36 S U P P LY C H A I N AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Dry fish reach the consumers through three marketing channels SHORT CHAIN (local marketing chain), MEDIUM
LENGTH CHAIN (nearby cities marketing chan) & LONG MARKETING CHAIN (distant cities marketing chain)

Fishermen Fishermen Fishermen

Commission agents (fresh fish) Commission agents (fresh fish) Commission agents (fresh fish)

Dryfresh processors Dryfresh processors Dryfresh processors
Consumers Retailers Commission agents

Consumers Whole salers
Retailers

Consumers

as Assam, Siliguri, Odisha, Jharkhand Bihar, sellers. Big trucks are used for the transportation
Tripura and some other parts of India. system at this level. In some areas where the
road transportation system is not well developed,
Marketing channels ferries or boats (from Sagar Island, South 24
Parganas to Petuaghat, Purba Medinipur) form
Dry fish reach the consumers through three the best alternative transport system.
marketing channels. Among these, the shortest
one is dry fish processors to consumers, which Inadequate infrastructural facilities
is the local marketing chain. The medium length
chain is from producers to retailers to consumers The present-day facilities, like all types
in nearby cities. The third marketing channel is of open fish markets in India, are far from
the most common and services distant cities. satisfactory. There is a lack of marketing
infrastructure for both wholesale and retail
Common marketing chain of dry fish is long markets. During storage of fish, the standard
enough including various activities involved in the norms of hygiene is neglected, resulting
flow of goods and services from its producer to the in contamination. Regarding hygiene and
consumer in acceptable condition. But as a whole sanitation in dried fish processing yards and
the domestic fish marketing system is carried out by markets there is a lack of minimum standard.
private traders with a large number of intermediaries Dried fish are stored in small huts with thatched
between producer and consumer, thereby reducing roofs near the drying yards.
the producer’s share of earnings. Long marketing
channel system starts from fishermen catching fresh Adopting new technologies
fish, commission agents procuring fresh fish, dried
fish processors, commission agents or 'byaparis' The Kerala State Coastal Area Development
purchasing dry processed fish, wholesalers of Corporation (KSCADC) has successfully tried
'aratdars', retailers or city shopkeepers and finally a new packaging technology called Modified
ends with the consumers. In this system, people Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) that has the
comprising labourers and transporters also play a potential to increase the shelf life of packaged dry
vital role. Manual labourers work here for loading fish beyond six months. It is a process of removing
and unloading. air around a food product and adding the mixture
of different percentages of three important gases
Mode of transport present in the air, namely, nitrogen, oxygen and
carbon dioxide. Sealing the plastic pouches in
Most of the fish drying hubs are located in the this manner make them impermeable. Adopting
coastal areas. After drying they are purchased technology and innovations can go a long way
by the commission agents. Here, the means in mitigating the challenges faced by this very
of transport is either vans or small trucks. important industry.
Wholesalers sell the collected dried fish to city

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S P E A K I N G W I T H 37

“Portable infrastructures
should be promoted”

DEVENDRA What are the challenges and
GUPTA, opportunities in agri cold storage?

CEO & Co founder India, like most developing nations, loses over
Ecozen Solutions 30 per cent of the food it produces. A solar powered
cold chain drives food security by improving food
Founded in 2010 by Devendra Gupta, quality and nutrition while improving farmers’
Vivek Pandey and Prateek Singhal, livelihood. Cold chain industry is poised to grow,
alumni of the Indian Institute of primarily driven by the demand generated from
Technology-Kharagpur, Ecozen organized retail, food processing and exports.
Solutions manufactures proprietary, The government is also planning to upgrade the
solar-powered, micro cold- infrastructure of Mandis across the country, under
storage units and water-pumping the new Agriculture -Infrastructure Fund scheme.
technologies for farmers and rural
communities. AgroSpectrum spoke What is the role of tech in the processes
to Devedra Gupta, Co Founder & CEO, of cold storage of agri-produce?
Ecozen Solutions about the status
of agricultural cold storage and A solution like ours helps perishable
challenges and opportunities before commodity businesses, retailers and food and
the sector. Edited excerpts; beverage manufacturers to identify and procure
quality produce directly from the farms. Being
What is the status of agricultural cold cold chain enabled, we can offer the option of
storage in India? long-distance sourcing of perishables while
ensuring quality and economical pricing.
India has cold stores majorly for potato (75 Furthermore, a strong and robust cold chain
per cent of installed capacity is for potato) and enable distribution to the last mile.
few other crops. There are only 20-30K reefers,
against a demand of about 100K for frozen food What inputs are required to bolster the
products and pharma. The cold chain for more growth of agri cold chain in India?
perishable fruits, vegetables and flowers is almost
missing. Lack of farm level pre-cooling (less than Financing is a big challenge for farm side users
1000 against a demand of 75000), reefer and due to the big-ticket size of the solutions and
information asymmetry are big issues plaguing usually these buyers may not have a great credit
the industry. Market is ripe for innovative history. Providing better credit and financing
solutions like Ecofrost, coming in to address options through alternate channels at discounted
these challenges. rates through Non-Banking Financial Companies
(NBFCs) can be very helpful. Further, eliminating
the need for financing to access government
subsidies and grants. The financing process is
significantly time consuming, wherein the season
itself passes, by the time a buyer gets a sanction.
Portable infrastructures should be promoted and
considered for government funding and subsidies.
Also, while we are offering such equipment on
lease, it is difficult to recover these assets in case
of a default; a mechanism similar to auto industry
can be developed it would be very helpful.

Dipti Barve
[email protected]

38 O P P O RT U N I T I E S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Irradiation facilities for food
preservation in PPP mode

One of the major problems of India’s agriculture and food sector is the huge
amount of food wastage. By conservative estimate Rs 45,000 crore worth of food
is wasted in India each year. But there is an important difference between food
wastage in other countries and in India. In several other countries wastage is on
the plates while in India it is more at harvest and transportation level due to lack of
adequate facilities for proper storage, transportation and processing facilities. To
overcome these issues, the government is creating food irradiation facilities under
PPP model with help of BARC, Mumbai.

Wastage of food affects the country facilities. Although the announcement is made,
in many ways. Firstly, it is a major the details of the scheme are yet to be announced.
loss for farmers who have to just Currently there are about twenty irradiation
throw it without earning any facilities in the country in private sector for
money. Secondly, it is a social issue as so much multiple products. However, the facilities at two
food is wasted when the country has a large centres, Agriculture Produces Market Committee
number of undernourished population. Lastly, it (APMC), Turbhe in Navi Mumbai and at Lasalgaon
causes environmental degradation. The process in Maharashtra are exclusively used for food
of wastage itself affects the environment and all products. These are being operated by a wing of
the natural resources like land and water used for Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) called Board
growing the food also impact environment without of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT).
any positive outcome when the food grown by
using these resources goes waste. The industry feels that the cost benefit ratio
will be crucial in expanding the irradiation market
Although Ministry of Food Processing in India. The irradiation process cost will have
Industries (MoFPI) has initiated several steps to to be loaded on the final food product. If initial
boost the food processing industry, much more investment is high, as some feel, it will increase
needs to be done on storage and logistics facilities. the processing cost and reflect in the final price.
One more solution to the problem, as the readers In such a situation the low-end products with
of this newsletter are very well aware, is food high cost of irradiation added to them will not be
irradiation. It has a dual benefit as it decreases accepted by the consumers. For high end products
food losses by increasing the shelf life of food like meat, spices, fish whose prices are already
products and also reduces risk of food borne high, adding additional burden of irradiation
diseases. One more advantage is that as the shelf processing cost will not make much difference for
life is increased and the food becomes safer due to the consumers and those products are likely to be
irradiation, its export prospects also grow.

With better export prospects, the production
can also grow. Currently various new hybrid /
mutant varieties of crops (including food grains
having much more yield prospects than the existing
ones) are not being introduced as the problem
could be of storage of so much of extra production.
But growing exports will solve that problem.

It is a very significant and important step by the
government to use the public-private partnership
(PPP) model for creating more food irradiation

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com O P P O RT U N I T I E S 39

accepted by them. feature in middle class and above households.
However, there is another view that irradiation There is no fear in the people’s minds of
electromagnetic radiation contaminating the
is actually more useful for low end products like food inside. That level of comfort will have to
onion, potato, carrot as it stops sprouting. While be brought in case of irradiated foods. This
loading the fixed cost if it is properly divided over is necessary because the financial issues like
a longer period and over larger throughputs, it will investment depend upon that.
not affect the price of even low-end products much.
Currently, from low end product onion to high end But if the acceptability is not seen, the private
products spices, mangos and lychee are irradiated. players will not come forward for setting up plants.
But unless the plants are set up and irradiated food
But beyond the price, the issue of acceptability products are floated in the market the acceptability
is more important. We already have an experience will not even begin. So, what is first is an important
of genetically modified or GM crops. We have issue and hence the government’s role will be
not been able to move an inch forward on GM crucial as it will have to give several concessions
crops front beyond cotton. Irradiation is even for initial partners in PPP to bring the products
a step ahead in ‘danger’ than GM in people’s into the market and make people taste them and
minds as they have fixed notions of radiation. In a accept them. Only then the private players will
common man’s sub-conscious mind there is a close come forward.
link between radiation and cancer. Most of the
people will get confused between irradiated and The industry is also little wary about the
radioactive foods as they may not be able to know regular supply of radioactive material to be used
the difference between the two. for irradiation process as it is going to be supplied
by only one agency, BARC. When the number of
Thus, the government, through its regulator irradiation facilities will grow due to PPP model,
like Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will the supply remain uninterrupted is a question
(FSSAI) and organisations like Bhabha Atomic the industry has. Safe handling of radioactive
Research Centre (BARC), will have to launch a material and disposing off the waste and its
massive campaign for large scale acceptance of monitoring is also a crucial issue. Although Stand
irradiated food products. Operating Procedure (SoPs) will be framed, how it
will be monitored when being handled by private
Only when people will understand the proper companies to ensure safety is also an issue to be
meaning of the process of irradiation then only considered. Strict implementation of rules will be
its acceptability will grow. That will lead to needed for that.
expansion of irradiated food market, justifying and
proper utilisation of more irradiation facilities. These two issues have been underlined in a
Unfortunately, in such matters the common man research paper in Foods ‘Potential Use of Gamma-
finds that sometimes the scientists themselves Irradiated Ethnic Ready-to-Eat Foods to Improve
are divided in two groups with one group raising the Nutritional Status of Landslide Victims’,
warning signals and confusing common people. in 2016. It said, the irradiated ethnic ready-to-
eat foods were generally well accepted by the
In this context it is important to know that respondents (in Java), though the cost-benefit of
FSSAI has a rule making it mandatory to mention mass production was still of great concern.
on the package label if the food is irradiated. Due
to this the fish exported to US is sent via Vietnam Despite all this, the PPP model needs to be
where there is no such rule and hence the product tried by taking precautions on these points in the
enters the US market and accepted. initial period. The step is important for the farmers
to raise their income and for the country to reduce
One can understand how the Indian consumers food wastage and improve food safety.
will respond after seeing the label mentioning
irradiated food. This does not mean that the rule Milind Kokje
should be withdrawn. But only way is to increase [email protected]
acceptability of the irradiated product so then the
label will not prevent the people from buying those (This article is first published in the July issue
foods. This can happen only through a sustain of the monthly newsletter of Indian Nuclear
campaign and still it may take a long time for Society on an invitation from the society. It is
acceptability. reprinted here with its permission.)

For instance, microwave oven is a common

40 W E B I N A R AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

“Focus on exports, especially
secondary products to
double the income”

All exporters must be trained in ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

standards and other quality check parameters. Young farmers are now being

trained in technology adoption, so that they can match the global quality standards.

The goal for the Indian exports should be $100 billion rather than the current $40

billion, an achievable feat if all stakeholders and government policies synergize.

In an informative and timely webinar The foremost issue with Indian agri-exports is
organised by Agrovision Foundation and quality. Improved logistics, fewer trade barriers
AgroSpectrum on, ‘Agriculture Exports - and digital communications have helped to open
Opportunities & Challenges’ a distinguished up the market. In the past decade there has been

panel of experts closely examined the Indian an increase in demand of quality produce from

agriculture export scenario, on August 10, 2020. private buyers and also in the global export scene.

The experts shared their views and experiences For instance, with regard to Indian Basmati rice

on how the country has held together under exports, there have been constant obstacles due to

trying circumstances in the recent past. The the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), something

recent proactive and pro-farmer policies and callously neglected by Indian growers despite

steps taken by the government under the regular information given by the concerned state

leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bodies. All exporters must be trained in ISO

the export of Indian agricultural commodities (International Organization for Standardization)

could witness a remarkable turnaround, provided standards and other quality check parameters.

certain crucial niggles in policy and quality of Young farmers are now being trained in

export commodities are effectively addressed. technology adoption, so that they can match the

global quality standards. The goal for the Indian

Bogged down by quality inadequacies exports should be $100 billion rather than the

Dr C D Mayee, Chairman, Agrovision current $40 billion, an achievable feat if all

Advisory Council, set the panel discussion stakeholders and government policies synergize.

rolling with his opening remarks that conveyed

an ebullient mood among the Indian farmers, A double-pronged approach

exporters, and Farmer Producer Organizations Diwakar Nath Mishra, Joint Secretary,

(FPOs). He reiterated that there are tremendous Department of Commerce, under the Ministry

opportunities in front of the present-day farmers, of Commerce and Industry, Government of

exporters and entrepreneurs and the goal of India spoke at length about a shift in focus

doubling farmers income can become a reality towards export of other commodities, rather

with an increase in exports. The newly introduced than only continuing with exports of rice, buffalo

ordinances, including the ‘Implementation of meat, marine products, tea, coffee, spices.

Agriculture Export Policy’ aimed at doubling These products, as per Mishra, have become

farmers’ income by 2022, Essential Commodity oversaturated in the global scene.

Act and amendment to the Agricultural Produce Firstly, aggressive promotion of agricultural

Marketing Committee (APMC) Act will have a export and secondly import substitution should

positive outcome. Due to the new export policy, be the twin focus. Prime focus should be on

all the states are coming forward, but at the same products, which are in surplus and are of good

time there are many challenges involved. quality and the country is already exporting,

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com W E B I N A R 41

but the export volume must increase. There are Indian exports are getting affected. If Indian
certain products for which India relies too much farmers and exporters neglect the quality of the
on other countries, which compels imports, so export commodity, there is no way to expand the
there is a need to focus on import substitution. Indian presence in the global market.

Concrete steps needed With the amendment of the APMC Act and
Mandi taxes, there is scope for including other
After the Prime Minister’s announcement commodities in the present lineup of agri exports.
about doubling farmers’ income and exports and Basmati rice, marine produce and bovine meats
the subsequent policies for their facilitation, all are almost saturated in their export scope and it
states are also coming forward. “In collaboration is time to focus on organic products, nutritious
with the agricultural ministry, we are planning foods such as millets, spices like turmeric, which
for a new drive wherein district wise we are trying are essentially health foods. A strategy is required
to identify at least one agricultural produce for to market these in the global market. As it is, the
export. ‘One district, one product’ is a scheme we demand for these items is immense within the
are trying to identify. In line with the agricultural country and across the world, which needs to be
policy, 14 states have already finalized their tapped. Export is also lagging due to inadequate
action plan and we have activated 15 clusters. infrastructure to support it effectively. There
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, are shortages in the number of labs, packaging
few of these clusters have performed very well, houses, warehouses and transportation facilities.
that we have been able to send bananas from Agriculture export policy needs all the support and
Anantapur, Ratnagiri mangoes, and also fruits cooperation from all the stakeholders, including
and vegetables from other regions”, he added. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority (APEDA).
Quantity with quality
In this direction, 14 states and 15 clusters
Concrete steps to increase diversity in the have started implementing the agricultural
export commodities must be increased. Right from policy. CEOs have been appointed in the
seeds, quality production, post harvest process, various clusters, MoUs will be signed with
packaging and marketing, port handling and AFC India Ltd. (AFC), formerly Agricultural
exports will benefit from the Rs one lakh crore set Finance Corporation Ltd, National Cooperative
aside for revamping the infrastructure. Conscious Development Corporation (NCDC), Tribal
effort on not only having surplus production but Cooperative Marketing Development Federation
also quality production is the need of the hour. of India Limited (TRIFED) and various agencies
interested in developing these clusters. In a few
Quality seeds, soil testing, judicious use of years, the export can be boosted remarkably.
pesticides and fertilizers will go a long way in this
regard. Post harvest all mandatory checks must Role of agro MSME
be undertaken so that the importing country
should not find fault and reject Indian exports. Anand Sherkhane, Additional Development
Commissioner, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium
The APMC Act has been amended to Enterprises (MSME), Government of India was
undertake contract farmers and there is scope to of the view that through focused intervention
add more products now. There is a huge scope in in capacity building, the agro exports can be
organic products, millets, spices, health related increased to the extent that India can surpass
foods, nationwide and also in the global market. Thailand and Indonesia and become the fifth
The European Union has been rejecting Indian largest exporter in the world. Export enhancement,
exports due to various reasons such as pesticide along with import substitution should also be
residue, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and adopted with judicious use of knowledge.
similar contentions. The post harvest mandatory
checks are lacking in Indian exports, which The government will support stressed MSME
makes them unacceptable in the global market. through equity infusion. A venture capitalist
Basmati rice growers in Punjab and Haryana still fund of Rs 50,000 crore will be set up for which
continue to use pesticides that are not accepted guidelines have been approved. Of this, Rs 10,000
by the European Union despite educating them crore infusion will come from the government.
about the hurdles in the export. Consequently, Under the National Small Industries Corporation

42 W E B I N A R AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

(NSIC), support will be given to MSMEs, which The newly introduced ordinances,
have potential to grow tremendously. One of the including the ‘Implementation of
main pain points for the MSMEs came to the Agriculture Export Policy’ aimed
fore during the COVID-19 pandemic wherein at doubling farmers’ income by
payments from the government were delayed. 2022, Essential Commodity Act
However, now the payments will be cleared within and amendment to the APMC Act
45 days. The MSME Champions portal has been will have a positive outcome. Due
launched to address the champions Grievances. to the new export policy, all the
states are coming forward, but
Exports marred by pesticide residue at the same time there are many
challenges involved.”
Khushwant Jain, Chairman, Indian Oilseeds
and Produce Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC), - Dr C D Mayee, Chairman,
said that India is importing raw sesame seeds from Agrovision Advisory Council
African nations, such as Somalia and Sudan and
exporting the same to the European Union and the Export is lagging due to
United States after processing. India is exporting inadequate infrastructure to
over 300,000 tonnes of sesame seed annually, support it effectively. There are
while the import from African nations is only about shortages in the number of labs,
10-15000 tonnes. At the same time, India is also packaging houses, warehouses
challenged in Basmati rice export by countries and transportation facilities.
like Vietnam, mainly due to the pesticide residue Agriculture export policy needs all
concerns. But then Basmati rice exports account for the support and cooperation from
Rs 1000 crore, spices around Rs 25000 crore while all the stakeholders, including
oilseeds is only Rs 9000 crore, which is the least APEDA. In this direction, 14 states
at the moment. As per data, oilseeds production and 15 clusters have started implementing the
is increasing at a remarkable rate and things agricultural policy. CEOs have been appointed in
are looking up for oilseeds export. To increase the various clusters, MoUs will be signed with AFC,
agricultural export, farmers need to be educated NCDC, TRIFED and various agencies interested
on the correct use of pesticides in terms of quantity in developing these clusters. In a few years, the
and also how to adopt technology optimally. export can be boosted remarkably.”
- Diwakar Nath Mishra, Joint Secretary,
Dr Bhagirath Choudhary, Member of Board, Department of Commerce, under the Ministry of
Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Commerce and Industry, Government of India
Development Authority (APEDA) said that The
PM’s agri infrastructure fund will be a major Through focused intervention in
proactive step towards boosting export and capacity building, the agro exports
can be achieved. He lauded Maharashtra state can be increased to the extent
stakeholders in leading the way in agri exports that India can surpass Thailand
and setting benchmarks that can be emulated by and Indonesia and become the
the rest of India. He opined that there is no need fifth largest exporter in the world.
to fall into the trap of the EU, in terms of Basmati Export enhancement, along with
rice or other commodities export as 90 per cent import substitution should also
of the country’s Basmati is exported outside be adopted with judicious use of
Europe, and this year APEDA was able to export knowledge.”
the largest quantum to date. Also, the Middle - Anand Sherkhane, Additional Development
East is a growing market where rice exports Commissioner, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium
can be targeted. There is a need to set up MRL Enterprises (MSME), Government of India
testing laboratories across the country to test the
product, at least in four zones across the country. As per data, oilseeds production
is increasing at a remarkable
Untapped value addition rate and things are looking up
for oilseeds export. To increase
G Chandrashekar, Policy Commentator agricultural export, farmers need
and Global Agribusiness & Commodity Market to be educated on the correct
use of pesticides in terms of
quantity and also how to adopt
technology optimally.”

- Khushwant Jain, Chairman,
Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion

Council (IOPEPC)

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com W E B I N A R 43

Specialist wants the country to leverage Free Trade The PM’s agri infrastructure
Agreements (FTA) and provide value addition. fund will be a major proactive
India, being the largest producer and exporter of step towards boosting export
castor oil, earns $1 billion annually, on export of and can be achieved. There
castor oil, which is a raw material. However, the is a need to set up MRL
value addition possibilities have been overlooked testing laboratories across the
and not capitalized, which can provide 4-5 times country to test the product, at
more, if tapped. Political will and commodity least in four zones across the
specific inputs from experts should be taken into country.”
account when policies are formed.
- Dr Bhagirath Choudhary,
Putting SEZs to good use Member of Board, Agricultural & Processed Food
Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
PM Parlewar, Director, MSME- Development
Institute, Nagpur felt that as there is scope for India, being the largest
utilizing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to help producer and exporter of
boost agri exports. There are over 450 SEZs in castor oil, earns $1 billion
India and out of that around 250 are operational annually, on export of castor
and of these, only few are doing well. Many are oil, which is a raw material.
also lying vacant or are on the verge of becoming However, the value addition
denotified. However, these zones can step in and possibilities have been
agriculture produce can be exported. overlooked and not capitalized,
which can provide 4-5 times
Much room for improvement more, if tapped. Political will
and commodity specific inputs from experts
Sumana Sarkar, Manager, EXIM Bank, gave should be taken into account when policies are
an illustrative presentation on the ground realities formed.”
of India’s agricultural production capacity and
the actual export presence in the world, which - Chandrashekar,
is not an encouraging picture. There are 8,038 Policy Commentator and Global Agribusiness &
cold storages in India with a total capacity of
3,67,70,637 MT. Comparing the production Commodity Market Specialist
capacity with the actual export imprint, India is
similar to Turkey, a country with much smaller There are over 450 SEZs in
capacity. Turkey has the highest number of India and out of that around
cold storages (19,700), but the capacity of cold 250 are operational and of
storages is highest in India. This can be attributed these, only few are doing
to infrastructure inadequacy and policies, which well. Many are also lying
are not exactly industry and export driven. vacant or are on the verge of
becoming denotified. However,
India is poised to make a major leap in export of these zones can step in and
rice, fruits and vegetables, wheat, fisheries, spices agriculture produce can be
and processed food. When strategic and operational exported.”
measures are applied synergistically, the Indian
agricultural export can grow at an exponential rate. - PM Parlewar, Director,
Focusing on exports and especially on secondary MSME- Development Institute, Nagpur
products can help tremendously in helping farmers
to double their income. As a final word, Dr Mayee here are 8,038 cold storages
insisted on not letting importing countries hold in India with a total capacity
the country’s exports at ransom for insignificant of 3,67,70,637 MT. Comparing
pesticide residue objections and that India should the production capacity with
also retaliate with a similar import restriction on the actual export imprint, India
such countries. is similar to Turkey, a country
with much smaller capacity.
Nitesh Pillai Turkey has the highest number
[email protected] of cold storages (19,700), but
the capacity of cold storages
is highest in India. This can
be attributed to infrastructure inadequacy and
policies, which are not exactly industry and
export driven.”
- Sumana Sarkar, Manager, EXIM Bank

44 A C A D E M I A N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

ICAR-CIAR develops RGB-Thermal
imager for crops

A new RGB-Thermal imager for spatial real time application of irrigation scheduling
data collection with location coordinates and measuring surface temperature of fruits,
and real time data processing, which seeds, vegetables among other uses but
can be integrated with actuation system cannot be used for real time data processing
for real time communication has been and communication. The software of the
developed and launched by Indian imager has been developed in Python 3 using
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) its libraries pygame (for image display), RPIO
and Central Institute of Agriculture
Research (CIAR), Bhopal on the (for keypad button), AMG 8833 (for thermal
occasion of 92nd founding day of ICAR. sensor) and time (timer library). The imager is
Commercially available thermal imagers user friendly, robust, low cost, under R15000
are useful for crop stress monitoring, and unaffected by temperature changes and
rainfall.

KAU introduces ICAR- NAIMCC
vegetable seeds kits receives IDA status
for cities from WIPO Geneva

The Integrated Farming Systems Research The National Agriculturally Important
Station (IFSRS) kits were launched as part of the Microbial Culture Collection (NAIMCC),
agriculture university initiative. The IFSRS, a a unit of the ICAR-National Bureau of
station under the Kerala Agricultural University Agriculturally Important Microorganisms
(KAU), has introduced vegetable cultivation kits, (NBAIM), Maunath Bhanjan, Uttar
which could prove useful for city residents, who Pradesh under the aegis of the Indian
have developed a passion for vegetable farming Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each kit, priced and Department of Agricultural Research
at Rs 125, contains vegetable seeds, 250 ml of urine, and Education (DARE), Government of
dung and Pseudomonas. Jacob John, professor India has acquired the status International
and head of IFSRS, said “the response from the Depository Authority (IDA) by World
public was overwhelming”. The kits contain seeds Intellectual Property Organization
of tomato, amaranthus, chilli and eggplant. The (WIPO), Geneva, under Article 7 (1) of
Rs 125 kit and five grow bags are available for Rs the Budapest treaty by its Notification
200. Growbags filled with a mixture of soil, dung No. 338 w.e.f. July 28, 2020. Around 82
and coir pith are also available here for Rs 80. countries are part of the treaty and there
The state government has called upon the public are about 48 IDAs across 26 countries.
to grow vegetables in their homes to ensure food The microbial resource centres having
security during this crisis. the status of IDA mainly accepts and
maintains the microorganisms for
patenting of work related to live organisms
having the medical, agricultural and
other uses. As per IDA, the NAIMCC
will be entrusted for conserving the
microorganisms used to develop patents
and also conserving the newly described
microbial taxa as a requirement for valid
taxonomic publication.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com A C A D E M I A N E W S 45

ICAR- CIAE Minnesota releases first
organizes virtual food-grade intermediate
business meet wheat-grass

The ICAR-Central Institute In a recently published article in the Journal of Plant
of Agricultural Engineering Registrations, a publication of the Crop Science Society
(CIAE), Bhopal, Madhya of America, University of Minnesota researchers reported
Pradesh organized a “Virtual the release of the first commercially available intermediate
Business Meet on the wheatgrass (IWG) cultivar. IWG is a cool-season perennial grain
Post-Harvest Processing crop domesticated primarily for food use while maintaining
Technologies” developed the ecological benefits it offers. The cultivar, named ‘MN-
by the institute on August Clearwater,’ produces 696 kg ha-1 (621 lb ac-1) of grain on
4, 2020. In his inaugural average with the first two years; it produces its highest grain
address, Dr K Alagusundaram, yields under Minnesota conditions. It is relatively short at 113
Deputy Director General cm and has minimal lodging with trace disease levels. MN-
(Agricultural Engineering), Clearwater is expected to perform well in US Upper Midwest,
ICAR emphasized the need of southern regions of Canada, and the US Northeast. As the first
post-harvest technologies in IWG cultivar released for sale under the Kernza trade name,
general and product processing MN-Clearwater is expected to be a cornerstone resource for the
in particular to help the farmers IWG research community as well as for interested growers, food
as well as the consumers. processors, and commercial partners.
He delineated about some of
the government policies for ICAR-ATARI conducts
supporting the establishment workshop on 'Climate
of food processing industries at Resilient Agriculture'
small to medium levels. Around
28 different technologies, The Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR)-Agricultural
developed at the institute Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Pune
and its regional centre conducted a one-day ‘Virtual Annual Zonal Review Workshop’
located at Coimbatore were of 13 National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture
showcased during the meeting. (NICRA), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Maharashtra and
The meeting was aimed at Gujarat on August 7, 2020. The workshop was jointly organized
showcasing some recently in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Research Institute for
developed technologies to the Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad and KVK, Jalna - I,
prospective stakeholders, viz., Maharashtra. Dr Ashok Dhawan, Vice-Chancellor, Vasantrao
food processors, entrepreneurs, Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani spoke on the
impending start-ups, machinery need to upscale the proven technologies demonstrated under
manufacturers, farmers and the NICRA Project. He emphasized on the need to integrate
rural youths. A total of 100 resource conservation with crop diversification for income
stakeholders attended the generating technologies. Focus on diffusing the well-tested
virtual meeting. climate resilient technologies in other areas was exhorted by Dr
M C Varshneya, Former Vice-Chancellor, Anand Agricultural
University, Anand and Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar,
Gujarat and ZMC Chairman, West Zone.

46 P E O P L E N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Dhanuka appoints Shamalbhai
Siraj Chaudhry as Patel elected as
additional director new chairman
of GCMMF
The Board of Directors of Dhanuka Agritech Ltd has approved
the appointment of Siraj Azmat Chaudhry as an Additional Shamalbhai Patel, chairman
Director under the ‘independent category’. Chaudhary is of the Sabarkantha District
an industry expert, thought leader and innovator in the Co-operative Milk Producers'
agriculture and food industry. He is a key voice on issues Union, was unanimously
concerning agriculture, food safety and nutrition and has elected as chairman of the
worked extensively with industry, the social sector and the Gujarat Cooperative Milk
Marketing Federation Limited
government on related projects. He is currently (GCMMF), the marketing
the Co-Chairman of the Federation of Indian body of the 'Amul' brand of
Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI) milk and other dairy products.
Committee on Agriculture. He had been the Valamji Humbal, chairman
Chairman of the National Committee on Food of the Kutch District Co-
Processing at FICCI and the National Alliance operative Milk Producers'
for Edible Oil Fortification, a joint initiative Union, also known as Sarhad
by the Confederation of Indian Dairy, was elected as vice
Industry (CII) and Global Alliance chairman of the GCMMF,
for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) which has its headquarters
to address malnutrition through in Anand. Elections to the
food fortification. two posts were held in the
presence of chairmen of the
FarmERP expands team state's 18 dairy co- operatives,
for future growth who are also members of
the GCMMF board. The
To enable revolutionary ease within the management system, federation members had
Pune-based leading Smart Agriculture Management ERP unanimously accepted the
Software Platform, FarmERP has welcomed Abhijeet Dange proposal to appoint Patel
and Vikram Metkari on board. Abhijit Dange has taken as GCMMF's chairman and
charge as the Associate Vice President for Delivery at the Humbal as vice chairman.
organization. He has vast experience in banking and financial
services, learning, and talent development for over 22 years
while working for organisations like Cognizant and Silverline.
Vikram Metkari has become the new Head of Sales and
Marketing, who shares the same passion that the co-founders
of the organisation do, for transforming the inner workings of

agriculture through the use of tech platforms.
Metkari, an MBA and BE professional with
rich work experience in marketing, sales,
and business strategy, is a self-motivated
and confident leader. He is not only a keen
planner and strategist, but also an
articulate communicator offering
high- calibre presentations,
negotiations, and analytical
skills.

Abhijeet Dange Vikram Metkari

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com A G R I I N P U T S N E W S 47

Bayer provides Deltamethrin for
locust control operations

To aid the government in its fight against locust in March 2020 by the Registration
swarms, Bayer CropScience Limited has supplied Committee for locust control in
5,500 litres of Deltamethrin for locust India. Deltamethrin is a space spray
control operations. It has helped curb formulation used for the control
the swarms in the states of Rajasthan of flying insect pests by thermal or ULV
and Punjab and prevented spread to fogging. It has proven beneficial during
the bordering districts in Northern emergency situations such as the current
Gujarat. Deltamethrin 1.25 locust attacks. To trial drone-based spraying of
ULV is globally recommended its approved chemistries, Bayer is partnering
by the Food and Agriculture independently with multiple drone technology
Organization (FAO) for locust providers for locust control activities in Rajasthan,
control and was also approved one of the worst-affected states.

RCF crosses FACT records
Rs 200 Cr in highest fertilizer
sales in FY 20-21 production

Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (RCF) The Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited
has crossed the milestone of Rs 200 crore in sales (FACT) is breaking records this year in production
of its Industrial Products in the current financial and sales, and set to improve its profile. It is a Public
year 2020-21 up to July 27, 2020. It is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of
Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The company achieved
Chemicals and Fertilizers. Despite COVID-19, highest monthly production of ammonium
the company achieved sales worth Rs 100 crore sulphate during July, 2020 with 24,016 metric
in 67 days and the next Rs 100 crore in 51 days. tonnes, (MT), a marked increase from 23,811
It produced more than 5.9 lakh MT of fertilizers MT in January, 2020, according to a statement
in the 1st quarter of 2020-21 and more than 2.3 by FACT. It produces two fertilizer products NP
lakh MT of fertilizers in July 2020. RCF had 20:20:0:13 (Factamfos) and ammonium sulphate,
also imported more than 2 lakh MT of complex mainly for the South Indian market. The company
fertilizers of various grades to overcome the attributes the increase in production to its strict
shortages in the country. As a State Trading adherence and implementation of operation
Enterprise, the company imported more than 13 schedule, logistics and product dispatch, raw
lakh MT of Urea on behalf of the Department of material planning, and maintaining safety
Fertilizers. protocols during COVID-19.

48 A G R I I N P U T S N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

New Holland CNH Industrial India bags
Agri launches Golden Peacock National
newCH Quality Award 2020
combine
The New Holland Agriculture plant in Greater Noida that
New Holland Agriculture comes under the CNH Industrial has been declared the winner
has launched the CH7.70 of the ‘Golden Peacock National Quality Award’ for 2020. The
combine, which introduces jury of the award headed by Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah,
a brand-new, Crossover former Chief Justice of India, Chairman, National Human
Harvesting concept that brings Rights Commission of India, and National Commission for
together outstanding Twin Constitution of India Reforms. The selection was based on
Rotor separation technology a stringent three-tier evaluation process by the grand jury.
with the brand’s proven The award indicated CNH Industrial commitment towards
and renowned conventional manufacturing and its achievements in the field of total
threshing technology. A New quality. In 1991, the Institute of Directors (IOD) established the
Crossover Harvesting concept Golden Peacock Awards, which is regarded as a benchmark of
integrates outstanding Twin Corporate Excellence in India. The award is seen as a challenge
Rotor separation technology among competitors to raise their performance stands and
with the gentle threshing that distinguish the achievements of best organizations.
is the hallmark of New Holland
conventional combines to HIL supplies 20.60 MT
offer the best of both worlds. of DDT to South Africa
It promises excellent grain
and straw quality, outstanding Hindustan Insecticides Limited, (HIL), India has supplied
crop-to-crop flexibility 20.60 metric tonnes of DDT 75% WP to South Africa for their
and reliability. The new malaria control programme on July 20, 2020. HIL, India is a
Crossover Combine sets a new PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and the
benchmark in capacity for mid- sole manufacturer of DDT globally. The Department of Health,
range combines, delivering South Africa shall be utilising DDT in three provinces adjoining
outstanding grain and straw Mozambique, which are highly affected with malaria. There are
quality, and is equally at home reports of maximum morbidity and mortality due to the disease in
in all crops and conditions. recent years. India accounts for the majority of cases and death in
It delivers best-in-class the South East Asia region, where spraying of insecticides inside
throughput with high grain and the human habitants has proven to be an effective mosquito
straw quality and delivers up to control tool. HIL, India was incorporated in 1954 to manufacture
25 per cent higher throughput and supply DDT to the Government of India’s Ministry of Health
than a conventional combine in and Family Welfare for malaria control programmes. In 2019-
this segment. 20, DDT was supplied to 20 States in the country.

AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S U P P LY C H A I N N E W S 49

Indian Railways launches Kisan Rail to
ensure seamless supply chain

Indian Railways recently launched 'Kisan Rail' bringing agricultural products like vegetables,
initiative under which the first train from Devlali fruits to the market in a short period of time and
to Danapur was flagged off by Narendra Singh will also have frozen containers to build a seamless
Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and national cold supply chain for perishable items
Farmers Welfare, Rural Development
and Panchyati Raj, and Piyush Goyal, such as fish, meat and milk as envisioned in
Minister of Railways and Commerce Union Budget 2020-21. The train
& Industry. The trains will provide a will run on a weekly basis with
seamless supply chain of perishable initial composition of 10
produce and will be a step towards +1 VPs. Parcel tariff of
realizing the goal of doubling farmers’ normal train (P Scale)
income by 2022. They will help in will be charged on
freight transported.

Tata Steel Nest-In, Tata Steel’s modular weather and climate changes and
launches construction solutions brand, has the recent challenges of transport
launched a revolutionary onion and movement, farmers have
smart storage solution ‘Agronest’ that is been facing multiple challenges
warehouse aimed at reducing spoilage of the with respect to storage and
onions to half of its current level. maintaining a healthy shelf
for onion This is a first-of-its-kind smart life of their produce. Over the
storage warehouse for onions developed years, farmers have suffered
with scientific backing and latest losses in quality and quantity
innovations and technology. The of their produce, as the onion
lack of scientific storage practices, industry lacks proper storage
non-standard designs and poor facilities. The warehouse has
quality of material used for onion sensors installed for monitoring
storage leads to over 40 per cent temperature, humidity and gas,
loss of the produce inside the thereby enabling early detection
warehouse. With unpredictable of spoilage of the produce.

Maersk launches digital supply chain
management platform

Maersk has launched a new platform to strengthen the company’s
position as global integrator of container logistics helping small
and medium sized customers to connect and simplify their supply
chains. It is dubbed ‘Maersk Flow’, a digital platform, which
provides customers and their partners with everything they
need to take control of their supply chain, from the factory to
the market. The solution will lend transparency to critical supply
chain processes and ensure that the flow of goods and documents
is executed as planned. It also reduces manual work and costly
mistakes, while empowering logistics professionals with all the
current and historical data they need to sustainably improve their
supply chain. Maersk Flow will give customers a digital supply
chain management tool that is designed specifically for their needs.

50 S U P P LY C H A I N N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.agrospectrumindia.com

Snowman Logistics Q1 FY 20-21 revenue plummets

During the quarter ended June 30, 2020, Snowman result, increased to Rs 17.87 crore from Rs 17.10
Logistics Ltd recorded a revenue of Rs 55.12 crore crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous
against Rs 62.07 crore in Q1 FY 19-20. The decline year. As a result, EBITDA margin increased from
in revenue was due to the disruption in road 27 per cent to 32.4 per cent. PAT increased to Rs
transport due to migration of drivers. At the same 0.78 crore in the current quarter from a loss of Rs
time, the warehousing occupancy of the company 8.99 crore in the same period in the previous year.
has increased due to a surge in demand for high All of the company’s facilities remained operational
quality temperature-controlled warehousing. throughout the lockdown period and the overall
The company’s earnings before interest, taxes, warehouse occupancy had increased in the current
depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as a quarter.

Mission Produce Oxnard, California based Mission sized biodegradable and food-
Produce Inc., the world’s most safe Hazel packaging insert that
and Hazel advanced avocado network, in temporarily blocks an avocado’s
ethylene receptors and slows
Technologies partnership with Chicago based the ripening process. With
Hazel Technologies Inc., have more shelf-life, the consumer
reaps the benefits of a longer
co-launch launched AvoLast by Hazel, timeframe to enjoy an avocado
AvoLast a ground-breaking shelf-life with ideal freshness, quality
extension program that keeps and taste. What’s more, by
avocados at an optimal level of increasing the shelf-life of both
hard and ripe Hass avocados,
ripeness for three extra days retailers can reduce throwaways,
in turn increasing profit while
on average. Integrating Hazel creating more positive consumer
experiences that drive category
technology across Mission’s growth.

global supply chain, AvoLast

makes it easier than ever for

consumers to shop for and

enjoy the perfect avocado. The

AvoLast program uses a quarter-

FACT begins coastal shipping of fertilizers

Shipping of fertilizers to the East and the West Coast of the
country has commenced by the Fertilizers & Chemicals Travancore
Limited (FACT), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry
of Chemicals & Fertilizers. FACT has adopted Coastal Shipping
as a new mode of transport for uninterrupted supply of fertilizers
to farmers in coastal India. Kishor Rungta, CMD, FACT and Dr
M Beena, Chairperson, Cochin Port Trust jointly flagged off the
movement of the first batch of containers with 560 MT Ammonium
Sulphate, in a function held at FACT Udyogamandal Complex,
Eloor on July 28, 2020. ‘ SSL Visakhapatnam’, a cargo ship, has
started for West Bengal from Cochin Port on July 30, 2020. A total
of 20 containers of Ammonium Sulphate were dispatched to Haldia
Port for distribution to the farmers in West Bengal. FACT is getting
active support of Cochin Port Trust in this endeavour.