52 PEOPLE NEWS YOUR VIEWS AGROSPECTRUM | JULY 2024 | www.agrospectrumindia.com Newly appointed, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. After taking over charge, he held a meeting of senior officials of the Ministry and underscored the need for transparency in Ministry functioning. Shivraj Singh Chouhan discussed in detail with senior officials of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department regarding the 100-day agricultural action plan, as per sankalp by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Union Minister, while understanding all the aspects of the departmental action plan for the first 100 days in the third term of the Modi government, gave directions to take strong steps to strengthen the country's agriculture sector and to reduce the pain and suffering of farmers. He also handed a government manifesto for welfare of farmers and rural development and called upon everyone to work towards its fulfilment. He mentioned that improving the lives of farmers (Annadata) should be the mission of the Agriculture Ministry. Shivraj Singh Chouhan takes charge as Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister J P Nadda takes charge as Union Minister of Health and Chemicals & Fertilizers Rajiv Ranjan Singh takes charge of Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying BJP Chief Jagat Prakash Nadda has been given the charge of Health Ministry in Prime Minister Narendra Modiled coalition government. Nadda was Health Minister in PM Modi’s first term. Nadda, 63, additionally has also been made Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Nadda, born on December 2, 1960, is a lawyer and politician who will serve as the 34th Minister of Health, 25th Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers since 2024 and 11th President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2020 and the member of the Rajya Sabha representing Gujarat since 2024. Nadda entered politics in 1975. During the Lok Sabha Polls in 1989, he was assigned a major responsibility as election in-charge of the BJP’s youth wing. Later, he contested Assembly elections from his home state Himachal Pradesh and won three times. He has been a Cabinet Minister in Himachal Pradesh. He also shouldered the responsibilities of BJP National General Secretary and Member Secretary of BJP Parliamentary Board. Rajeev Ranjan Singh of the Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) has been appointed as Union Minister for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj; and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. BJP’s Giriraj Singh handled the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in the previous government. Rajiv Ranjan Singh chaired a briefing and review meeting of the Department of Fisheries at Krishi Bhawan after taking charge. During the meeting, the Union minister directed to prepare a strategy for enhancing export of value-added fisheries products and also directed the Ministry of Finance to issue advisories to all the banks for extending KCC facilities to all eligible fishermen. Minister has also directed a meeting with Members of Parliament (MPs) of leading fish producing states/ UTs to understand ground reality and challenges for improving performance of the fisheries sector.
PEOPLE NEWS POLICY NEWS 53 AGROSPECTRUM | JULY 2024 | www.agrospectrumindia.com The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) announced the appointment of Ramkumar Ramaswamy as its new Director of Corporate Services. Ramaswamy brings to the institute a distinguished portfolio, with over 25 years of extensive expertise in leading the finance function in large multinational and Indian companies. A Chartered Accountant with a degree in Commerce, Ramaswamy has held key positions across various sectors including consumer goods, chemicals, oil and gas, natural resources, and steel. Most recently, he served as the Chief Financial Officer and whole-time Director at Jindal Steel and Power, a leading publicly listed company. His distinguished career also includes leadership roles at renowned organisations such as Vedanta, Shell, Cadbury, and Unilever. His finance functional experience and expertise includes corporate governance, risk management, funding and treasury, investor relations, project and change management, internal controls, ethics and compliance and driving business outcomes and impact. ICRISAT appoints Ramkumar Ramaswamy as New Director of Corporate Services Innoterra appoints Avinash Kasinathan as Head of India business Aarti Industries appoints Suyog Kotecha as CEO Aarti Industries Limited (AIL), a leading Indian manufacturer of speciality chemicals with a global reach, announced the appointment of Suyog Kotecha as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director with effect from June 17, 2024. Kotecha’s expertise is well recognised in the chemical industry, having held key leadership positions across various stages of the value chain. Most recently, he led Strategy and New Business initiatives for the Petrochemicals business at Reliance Industries Limited. Before that, he served as a Partner at McKinsey & Company, leading the Chemicals Practice and advising companies on performance transformation and strategic growth. Kotecha comes with a proven track record and a wealth of experience in strategy, innovation, and business transformation. His innate understanding of the chemicals industry, coupled with his extensive experience from the factory floor to the boardroom, make him the ideal leader to take AIL into its next chapter of growth. Swiss-Indian food and technology platform company, Innoterra announced that Avinash Kasinathan has joined Innoterra as the Head of India business, effective immediately. Avinash brings with him rich experience in strategy, technology, and the agriculture sector. Avinash started his career as a consultant at McKinsey. Prior to joining Innoterra, he served as the CTO of WayCool and CEO of CENSA (Waycool’s technology wing), where he played a pivotal role in building a scalable, well-governed, and sustainable food and agri-tech platform. He has been instrumental in conceiving, conceptualising, and building the Censa platform as one of the most comprehensive tech stacks in the food economy. At Innoterra, Avinash will focus on building Innoterra’s India business portfolio, including but not limited to its agri-tech platform, Farmlink, its high-quality milk and cattle feed business Milklane, and the domestic sales and business relating to its banana vaccine, BanacXin.
54 ACADEMIA NEWS YOUR VIEWS AGROSPECTRUM | JULY 2024 | www.agrospectrumindia.com The World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) has signed an agreement with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) to enhance scientific cooperation and innovation in agriculture. The two organisations will establish a framework for cooperation, focusing on knowledge sharing, germplasm exchange, personnel exchange, and technology transfer. Both organisations will work together to conserve native and indigenous vegetable varieties, facilitate germplasm exchange, undertake joint research projects, conduct explorations, organise training programmes, and develop capacitybuilding initiatives, mentioned Aravazhi Selvaraj, India Country Director, WorldVeg, in a statement. Gyanendra Pratap Singh, Director, ICAR-NBPGR informed that the collaboration with WorldVeg is a strategic step towards strengthening our research capabilities and expanding our genetic resources. The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), a not-for-profit science-based development and information organisation from the UK is leading a new project using earth observation data and climate forecasts for targeted management of wheat blast disease in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The project is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and involves working with Assimila Ltd, Cervantes Agritech, the University of Leicester, RAL Space, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, who are all leading experts in their fields. Wheat blast (Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum or ‘MoT’) is a severe problem in Bangladesh and South America amid humid, warmer climates and is a plant disease of global concern, threatening crop production, biosecurity, and food security. CABI and partners, with expertise in earth observation, remote sensing, pest and disease modelling, datasets, and information dissemination, are producing wheat blast risk maps to help as part of a targeted management approach to the disease. CABI leads new project for targeted management of wheat blast disease WorldVeg and ICARNBPGR sign MoU to facilitate germplasm exchange On the occasion of the World Environment Day 2024, the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), which has been at the forefront of advocating and supporting various environmental initiatives has compiled inputs for a 100-day green agenda for the new government. Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, emphasised that by placing a strong emphasis on various factors of the environment, the new government can set the wheels of the Indian economy in motion towards a sustainable and resilient future. The government should strengthen regulations and integrate environmental considerations into various sectoral and non-sectoral policies which will also help in achieving our national and international commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Net Zero by 2070 target. TERI compiles inputs for 100-day Green Agenda for the new Government
ACADEMIA NEWS POLICY NEWS 55 AGROSPECTRUM | JULY 2024 | www.agrospectrumindia.com Pusa Institute, New Delhi launched the seed sale of RobiNOweed Basmati Rice Varieties namely, Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985 tolerant to Imazethapyr 10% SL for Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) cultivation. However, weeds are a major problem under DSR which needs to be addressed to ensure the success of DSR. In this direction, concerted research at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi has led to the development of two RobiNOweed Basmati rice varieties, Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985 which are the first non-GM herbicide tolerant Basmati rice varieties tolerant to Imazethapyr 10% SL to be released for commercial cultivation in India. Moreover, these varieties not only reduce the labour-intensive processes associated with weeding but also mitigate the environmental impact of traditional rice cultivation methods. Bioseed and IRRI extend collaboration for developing nextgeneration rice varieties IPL Biologicals Limited, a leading agro-biological company, has partnered with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to launch Agenor, a cutting-edge bio-fungicide designed to address the challenges faced by paddy farmers. This collaboration formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), underscores a shared commitment to agricultural innovation and sustainability. The MoU facilitates the exchange of expertise and resources to develop solutions for longstanding issues such as Bakane disease, which has severely impacted paddy farmers. Agenor demonstrates exceptional efficacy in controlling Bakane disease, also known as foot rot, a detrimental seed-borne ailment that can cause yield reductions ranging from 3 to 95 per cent annually. By incorporating Agenor into their agricultural practices, farmers can significantly enhance their yields. The strain of Agenor was developed by distinguished scientists at PAU. Leveraging this partnership, IPL Biologicals spearheaded the research and development efforts, formulating the product into a wettable powder and successfully registering it under the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) as Trichoderma asperellum 2% WP, now known as Agenor. IPL Biologicals inks MoU with PAU to launch bio-fungicide for paddy farmers IARI launches RobiNOweed Basmati rice varieties for DSR cultivation Bioseed and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) recently agreed to an amendment of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will extend their ongoing partnership for a further five years, advancing research initiatives that aim to develop improved rice varieties with multiple tolerances for biotic and abiotic stresses. The amendment will extend the partnership for a further five years, from May 2022 to April 2027. A seed and biotechnology company, Bioseed is a wholly owned subsidiary of DCM Shriram Limited, one of India’s largest agricultural conglomerates. Bioseed’s partnership with IRRI is through IRRI’s Bio-Innovation Center (BIC), a membership-based programme that enables public and private sector partners to leverage the institute’s world-class research infrastructure, expertise, and resources for the development or scaling up of their own products or research solutions. Bioseed has been a BIC member since August 2020.
56 TECHNOLOGY NEWS YOUR VIEWS AGROSPECTRUM | JULY 2024 | www.agrospectrumindia.com Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM), India’s leading post-harvest logistics company, announced the acquisition of its second patent for Agri Reach application, from the Intellectual Property India, Government of India. The latest patent recognises the pioneering “Method for REALTIME Monitoring of Quality Control Data in a Warehouse Management System”. The innovation marks a milestone in the agriculture industry, by realtime monitoring of the quality of commodities at all stages of the warehouse management operations to ensure health of commodities during the whole process. The first patent of Agri Reach Application was granted in 2022, “Method for REAL-TIME Data Management” which had defined centralised processes for monitoring and managing crops from any location, whilst this Second Patent granted on May 20, 2024 specifically addresses the process of Monitoring Quality of the commodities stored in a Warehouse. Syngenta opens rights to genome-editing and breeding tech for academic research globally Syngenta Group, one of the world’s largest agricultural technology companies, will provide rights to selected genomeediting and breeding technologies for academic research globally, as part of its commitment to foster innovation and drive sustainability in agriculture. These rights are accessible through its innovation collaboration platform Shoots by Syngenta. The rights to certain intellectual property are related to optimised CRISPR-Cas12a as well as to gene-editing enabled breeding tools. Through CRISPR gene-editing, it is possible to deliver an improved plant that does not include DNA from a different species – more quickly and efficiently than otherwise possible in nature or through conventional breeding methods. As a leader in this wave of technological innovation, Syngenta scientists have been continuously innovating to improve CRISPR-Cas genome editing technologies. Syngenta’s scientists have engineered CRISPR Cas12a to increase both its efficiency as well as utility, significantly optimising it as a tool for crop improvement. ICAR-CIBA signs MoU with Neomeds for technology transfer of ‘CIBA EHP Cura I’ ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Neomeds, Hyderabad for the technology transfer of ‘CIBA EHP Cura I’- technology. This innovative technology addresses Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei, a microsporidian pathogen that poses a severe threat to the global shrimp industry. After 6-7 years of exclusive research on EHP, ICARCIBA developed ‘CIBA EHP cura I’ a treatment that was field validated and led to its commercialisation. Dr Kuldeep K Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA highlighted the severity of EHP pathogen in shrimp aquaculture and the significance of ‘CIBA EHP cura I’ in combating the issue and opined that it will help the farming community in India. SLCM receives second patent for Agri Reach application
TECHNOLOGY NEWS POLICY NEWS 57 AGROSPECTRUM | JULY 2024 | www.agrospectrumindia.com The Unmanned RemoteControlled Palm Tree Harvesting Robot, developed by Dr A R Desai’s team from ICARCentral Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI), Goa, and Dr Rajendra S Gad’s team from Goa University, has been granted Patent. This newly patented invention is a remote-controlled, unmanned tree-climbing apparatus that is risk-free, efficient, and user-friendly. It reduces the risk associated with human climbers, shortens harvesting time, and is lightweight and portable. Moreover, it addresses the significant issue of plant damage caused by sharp blades or bark-penetrating spikes in other devices. This innovation offers a less invasive and hasslefree method of harvesting. The technology promises significant benefits for coconut farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and selfhelp groups in coastal and coconut-growing regions. The inventors also have a message to prospective entrepreneurs to come forward with a Tripartite MoU (with ICAR- CCARI and Goa University) for mass production and commercialisation of the device for the benefit of coconut farmers. ICAR-CIARI Port Blair resolves the mystery of Andaman’s local Choi Jhaal Woody pepper is a perennial liana of the Piperaceae family, which is locally called Choi jhaal in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Systematic research work has been taken up at ICARCentral Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Port Blair since 2016 to conserve it and understand the significance of this underutilised genetic resource. Under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India funded a project at ICARCIARI, a DNA barcoding approach with two plastid barcode markers (ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large sub-unit-rbcL gene and psbA-trnH spacer region) was adopted to overcome this issue. This approach revealed that the correct botanical identity of the woody pepper is Piper pendulispicum C. DC. This species has not been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands or any parts of mainland India so far. These findings would aid in the conservation of this unique genetic resource found in the remotely located Indian islands apart from promoting its cultivation. Neogen releases CelluSmart Technology for biofuel industry Neogen Corporation, an innovative leader in food safety solutions, launched the new CelluSmart technology from Megazyme by Neogen for the measurement of cellulosic ethanol from biofuel production. In creating this industry-first technology, Neogen improved upon the previous National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) procedure, introducing a yeastdegrading cocktail (YDC). With these improvements, CelluSmart allows the ethanol industry to fully realise its efforts to produce low-carbon fuels, represented in value by the D3 RINs generated from in-situ production. Cellulosic ethanol represents a 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from standard petroleum-based fuel and helps progress toward climate goals. Unmanned remote controlled palm tree harvesting robot receives patent
58 AGRI INPUT NEWS YOUR VIEWS AGROSPECTRUM | JULY 2024 | www.agrospectrumindia.com Coromandel unveils state-of-the-art nano fertiliser plant at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh Coromandel International Limited, India’s leading agri solutions provider, unveiled state-of-the-art nano fertiliser plant at its Kakinada complex in Andhra Pradesh. The plant was inaugurated by Sankarasubramanian S, Executive Director, Nutrient Business, in the presence of the company’s senior leadership team and key channel partners from across the country. Coromandel’s Kakinada unit produces a wide range of NPK grades with an annual capacity of 2 million metric tonnes (MMT) of fertilisers and caters to the needs of farming community across India. With the commissioning of the new nano facility at its Kakinada complex, Coromandel has forayed into new generation fertilisers, which have the potential to revolutionise Indian agriculture. The new Nano Fertilizer Plant is designed using energy-efficient technologies and has a fully automated production line including a robotic arm for bottling operations. Savannah Seeds launched its groundbreaking FullPage Rice Cropping Solution to the Indian market in collaboration with ADAMA India, a leading global crop protection company. Specifically designed for direct-seeded rice (DSR), FullPage brings together SmartRice genetics, SQUAD seed treatment, the FullPage unique IMI herbicide tolerance trait, and ADAMA’s Vezir herbicide. As a comprehensive rice cropping system, FullPage is poised to reshape rice cultivation in India. The FullPage Rice Cropping Solution will save farmers up to Rs 6000 per acre and enhance their yields by 25-40 per cent. It will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25-30 per cent. Traditional DSR practices often struggle with weed management and inconsistent germination, leading to lower yields. To address this challenge in rice farming, the FullPage Rice Cropping Solution integrates ADAMA’s Vezir herbicide that controls weeds like weedy/red/feral rice and barnyard grass in Imazethapyr-tolerant hybrid rice. Savannah Seeds, ADAMA India jointly launch FullPage Rice Cropping Solution New Holland launches first-ever Made-in-India TREM-IV tractor WORKMASTER 105 New Holland, a brand of CNH, unveiled the first-ever Made-in-India 100+HP TREMIV tractor in the country. The launch of WORKMASTER 105 marks a new milestone for the company and the Indian tractor industry. The WORKMASTER 105 with TREM-IV compliant engine brings worldclass technology, quality and performance to the Indian customers seeking nothing but the best. New Holland has sold over 15,000 units of the WORKMASTER family to the extremely competitive and quality conscious markets like North America. Company mentioned that the WORKMASTER 105 sets a new benchmark when it comes to high horsepower tractors in India. This machine has proven its mettle in highly demanding markets like the USA and has been a testimony to its commitment to offer cutting-edge products. New Holland is renowned throughout the world for its higher horsepower tractors.
60 SUPPLY CHAIN YOUR VIEWS AGROSPECTRUM | JULY 2024 | www.agrospectrumindia.com Palladium, under the Promotion & Stabilization of Farmer Producer Organizations (PSFPO) Project, has achieved a significant milestone by supporting the Mahila Kisan Farmer Producer Company (MKFPCL) from Rayagada in exporting 9.5 quintals of Amrapalli mangoes from Odisha to London. This is an all-women farmer producer company promoted by PRADAN under the Agricultural Production Cluster scheme of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Odisha. This landmark export has resulted in a remarkable 40 per cent increase in price realisation for more than 1900 women farmers involved. In another noteworthy achievement under the PSFPO project, Palladium successfully facilitated the export of 7.5 quintals of premium mango varieties, including Amrapali, Mallika, Chousa, Himsagar, Baiganpali, and Latsundari. These mangoes were showcased at the prestigious Indian Mango Festival (Indian Hamba) in Doha, Qatar, from May 30 to June 8, 2024. Palladium backed women FPC in Odisha exports mangoes to London JNPA inks MoUs with PSA (India) and CMA CGM for development of Greenfield Port at Vadhvan Visakhapatnam Port ranks in Top 20 in the Container Port Performance Index 2023 The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has signed two significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with PSA (India) and CMA CGM, committing a total investment of Rs 40,000 crore for the development of the Greenfield Port at Vadhvan in Palghar district of Maharashtra. This announcement comes as JNPA celebrates its 35th anniversary, having established itself as India’s largest container port since its inception in 1989. The port achieved a remarkable milestone by recording its highest-ever throughput of 6.43 million TEUs in the fiscal year 2023-24. JNPA has consistently handled over 6 million TEUs annually in recent years. Currently, JNPA operates five container terminals: NSFT, NSICT, NSIGT, BMCT, and APMT, along with a Shallow Water Berth for general cargo and a Liquid Cargo Terminal managed by the BPCL-IOCL consortium. The latest Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) reveals outstanding performance by East and Southeast Asian ports in 2023, with them bagging 13 out of the top 20 positions – and Visakhapatnam Port is one of them. This fourth edition of the CPPI, created by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, assessed the efficiency of 405 global container ports, focusing on the duration of port stay for container vessels. Notably, the Visakhapatnam Port has entered the top 20 rankings in the CPPI 2023, securing the 18th position. Meanwhile, Mundra Port, which is ranked 22th and operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), was outperformed by Visakhapatnam Port. Looking at the top-performing ports, China’s Yangshan Port earned the top spot for the second consecutive year, while Oman’s Port of Salalah retained the number two position.
SUPPLY CHAIN POLICY NEWS 61 AGROSPECTRUM | JULY 2024 | www.agrospectrumindia.com Coromandel International Limited, India’s leading agri solutions company, has announced increasing its investment in Ecozen, a pioneering climate-smart technology solutions provider. The Rs 24 crore investment was made through its wholly owned subsidiary and corporate venture capital arm Dare Ventures Limited. With this, Coromandel has increased its shareholding in Ecozen to 5.54 per cent, an increase of 3.13 per cent. Ecozen is known for its innovative and sustainable solutions such as the solarpowered irrigation (Ecotron) and cold chain systems (Ecofrost) that have positively impacted the lives of over 180,000 farmers in India. The company leverages advanced technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and energy storage to boost agricultural incomes and also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and food losses. Ecozen clocked a turnover of Rs 274 crore in FY23, quintupling its growth in the last three years, underscoring the increased consumer acceptance and demand for sustainable solutions. Coromandel expands Agtech Footprint with increased shareholding in Ecozen DP World launches first Free Trade Warehousing Zone in Kerala DAHD signs MoU with UNDP to strengthen India’s animal vaccine supply chain management system The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India on Digitalization of Vaccine Cold Chain Management, Capacity Building, and Communication Planning. Notably, UNDP and DAHD will jointly work on Strengthening Animal Health with One Health approach at centre. This step will contribute to creation of a digital future via digitalisation and remote temperature monitoring of the cold chain by UNDP India. This will ensure that vaccines are stored in an adequate temperature of prescribed limit of 2-8 degree Celsius which is important to increase immunisation coverage and outreach. Dubai Port World (DP World) which operates the International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) in Kochi announced the launch of the first Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) in Kerala. The Cochin Economic Zone, located within the Cochin Port premises of Vallarpadam terminal, is expected to enhance Cochin Port’s capabilities as the preferred gateway to the south. The 75,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility provides seamless integration with DP World’s strategic multimodal logistics network, facilitating efficient connections across India and global markets. The DP World Cochin Economic Zone is an innovative model located within the port premises, setting a new benchmark among economic zones in India. Its integrated solution in Cochin provides value-added services, linking ports to the wider supply chain through multi-modal connectivity. This facility will not only support EXIM-oriented businesses but also open doors for global companies to enter the Indian market.
On June 19, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25 to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce. The highest absolute increase in MSP over the previous year has been recommended for oilseeds and pulses namely niger seed (Rs 983 per quintal) followed by sesamum (Rs 632 per quintal) and tur/arhar (Rs 550 per quintal). The increase in MSP is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the AllIndia weighted average cost of production. The expected margin to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be highest in the case of bajra (77 per cent) followed by tur (59 per cent), maize (54 per cent) and urad (52 per cent). For the rest of the crops, the margin to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be at 50 per cent. In recent years, the government has been promoting the cultivation of crops, other than cereals such as pulses and oilseeds, and nutricereals/ Shree Anna, by offering a higher MSP for these crops. During the period 2003-04 to 2013-14 for 14 crops covered under KMS, the minimum absolute increase in MSP was Rs 745 per quintal for bajra and the maximum absolute increase was Rs 3,130 per quintal for moong while during the period 2013-14 to 2023-24, the minimum absolute increase in MSP was Rs 780 per quintal for maize and the maximum absolute increase was Rs 4,234 per quintal for nigerseed. From 2004-05 to 2013-14, the procurement of 14 crops covered under KMS was 4,675.98 Lakhs Metric Tonne (LMT) and it increased to 7,108.65 LMT during the period 2014-15 to 2023-24. Though the government has been taking steps and increasing the MSP each year for the benefit of farmers from across the country, a section of the farmer's unions mainly from the northern states of Punjab and Haryana has been protesting over MSP issue by road blockades at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13. However, the announcement of the general elections, till June 4, kept the mood down at the protest place as all political parties were busy campaigning and trying to muster their strength in Lok Sabha. Immediately after the government formation led by Narendra Modi as Prime Minster on June 9, Trinamool Congress, led by their leader Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal that won 29 seats from the state and emerged as the third largest opposition party after Indian National Congress (99 seats) and Samajwadi Party (37 seats) led by Akhilesh Yadav respectively, spoke to protesting farmers at Haryana-Punjab border on June 11 and assured them that her party would raise the issue of giving legal guarantee for MSP in the upcoming session of Parliament (June 24-July 3, 2024). Now the Modi government is back in power although with a smaller number of seats, it has appointed Shivraj Singh Chouhan as Union Agriculture Minister. A man who led Madhya Pradesh for over 16 years and 282 days as Chief Minister (CM), the longest-serving CM of the state, has given significance to the agriculture sector during his regime. Due to his policy initiatives announced during 2005-2018 and 2020-23, the state’s agricultural sector has experienced rapid growth in the last two decades. Madhya Pradesh is one of the country’s top producers of food grains, pulses, and oilseeds. After taking over the charge as Union Minister along with his juniors Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Chaudhary, as Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan while understanding all the aspects of the departmental action plan for the first 100 days in the third term of the Modi government, gave directions to officials to take strong steps to strengthen the country's agriculture sector and to reduce the pain and suffering of farmers. Thus, going by the agri sector performance of Madhya Pradesh over a decade, one can say that Chouhan as agriculture minister is the right choice to meet all challenges head-on. Narayan Kulkarni, Editor [email protected] Replicating the MP Success Story Across India 62 LET’S TALK AGRI YOUR VIEWS AGROSPECTRUM | JULY 2024 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
th th 11 - 12 July 2024 Shaping the Future of Fisheries Conference The conference’s central mission is to advocate for a safe, productive and sustainable environment for fishing communities. • Best practices in fisheries management • New technology for fishing • Government initiatives • Empowering women & marginalised groups in fisheries • Success stories Workshop • Harnessing technology for efficient fishing • Understanding certifications for fishing practices • Identifying market trends, building strong market linkages and adding value to their catch through processing and packaging techniques. National Expo • Trade show with more than 100 organizations • Separate pavilion for start ups showcasing new technologies Event Spectrum National Expo Conference Coastal Cultural Fest Workshops for Fishermen Nagpur : 402, Govind Apartment, W.H.C. Road, Shankar Nagar Sq.,Nagpur - 440 010 Ph : +91 712 2554997, +91 712 2555249 New Delhi : 103-104, Rohit House, 3 Tolstoy Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi - 110 001 Ph : +91 11 4354 2737 Event Secretariat : +91 83838 53534 2024 CIDCO Exhibition & Convention Centre, Vashi, Navi Mumbai Scan QR Code Suppor For Registration Knowledge Partner ted by MAFSU Organised by MAHARASHTRA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL’S Book your space now !
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