4 AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
Volume 02 | Issue 10 | December 2021
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AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com AGRO EDIT 5
Lessons in consensus
The contentious Farm Laws lasted for only for 23 crops, the government spending will be
221 days as Narendra Modi, Prime Minister phenomenally high.
of India, withdrew them recently. This was
naturally welcomed by farmers who had been The third problem is related to storage. With
agitating against them for over a year. But it has only 30 to 40 per cent purchase, year on year
given them a chance to flex their muscles on other stocks are piling. The government procures 110
important issues like Minimum Support Price lakh tonnes of wheat and paddy when its buffer
(MSP). They have declined to go back to their stock norm is just 41 lakh tonnes. When the stock
homes stating that they will continue to agitate should have been 257 lakh tonnes in October 2021
to press for other demands which include legal as per the norms, it was already 721 lakh tonnes.
guarantee of MSP. If the government is compelled to buy 100 per
cent produce of all crops, how much it will have to
On the recommendation of the Commission spend on storage, is a crucial point. Additionally,
of Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP), the when MSP is guaranteed by law, farmers tend to
government provides a safety net of MSP for gravitate to those crops on a large scale. Even if the
23 crops including paddy, wheat, groundnut, MSP will be there for all crops, farmers will select
sugarcane, cotton and raw jute. It announces those crops that will give them more remuneration
MSPs of the 23 crops each year. But there is no under the MSP, bringing distortions in cropping
legal backing for this and hence practically MSP patterns and ending the diversity. All these costs
is given for only a few crops. Hence, farmers have will be much more than the MSP.
been demanding MSP for all agricultural produce
and to every farmer and that too, with legal The experts are of the opinion that the
guarantee. While announcing the repeal of the government should build mechanisms to protect
laws, the PM also announced to form a committee farmers from price fluctuations, leaving the
to discuss how the system of MSP could be more markets to decide the prices. Ultimately, the
effective. But, farmers are not satisfied and the objective of the MSP, too, is the same. This will be
agitation continues on. a more practical and affordable option. But this
will be the most difficult task for the government
However, expert opinion is rightly against to convince the farmers over this different route,
the total MSP with legal backing, since that will particularly when its credibility is at the lowest
destroy the system. A legal mandate would compel when it comes to farm issues.
the government to purchase all the produce any
farmer wants to sell at the announced MSP for all The PM has admitted that the government
the crops brought under MSP. failed to explain the benefits of the three Farm
Laws to a section of farmers. As such, it will have
The problems in MSP are varied. The very first to adopt a different, more sober route, taking all
is with several climatic zones, India has large stakeholders into confidence instead of forcefully
varieties of crops and within each variety the imposing the three laws.
productivity differs a lot area wise, making one
MSP work for one crop difficult. The main reason for the Centre’s capitulation
could be a mere political ploy. Even so, it should
Secondly, the government hardly purchases be a major lesson for the government to flow with
30 to 40 per cent of crops currently, that too the people’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’, instead of coming
few out of 23 for which MSP are announced. down heavily with new Laws.
Still, in 2019-20, wheat and paddy procurement
cost to the government was Rs 2.16 lakh crore Dr. Milind Kokje,
which increased to Rs 2.53 lakh crore in the next Chief Editor
season. With 100 per cent purchase and that too
[email protected]
6 CONTENT AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
CONTENT
COVER STORY 15
Floriculture
Boom Adds to
Agri Growth
Bouquet
The Government of India has identified floriculture as a sunrise industry and accorded it 100
per cent export oriented status. Floriculture in India, is being viewed as a high growth Industry.
Commercial floriculture is becoming important from the export angle. The liberalisation of
industrial and trade policies paved the way for development of export-oriented production of
cut flowers. The new seed policy had already made it feasible to import planting material of
international varieties. According to IMARC, a market research company, the Indian floriculture
market is expected to reach a value of Rs 661 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 19.2 per cent
during 2021-2026. As per figures provided by Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority (APEDA), the country has exported 15,695.31 Metric Tonnes (MT) of
floriculture products to the world for the worth of Rs 575.98 crore/($77.84 million) in 2020-21. We
take a closer look at the projection for this new ray of agri growth for India.
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com CONTENT 7
CONTENT
SPEAKING WITH
21 How's Floriculture Bogged 33
by Challenges? “The Centre is willing to
enter into a FTA with the
24 Blossoming Indian EU to sort out the issues of
Floriculture startup industry import duty.”
Dr M Angamuthu, Chairman,
Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority (APEDA)
35
"Expediting export-led
Floriculture business can be
a gamechanger"
Padmanabhan R R,
Founder, Exim Group
of Companies
27 Plugging the many gaps in
Indian Floriculture sector
39 Ensuring accessibility of
nutritious food for all
30 Centre's boost to REGULARS
Floriculture
Editorial......................................... 05
Your Views................................... 08
Policy News................................. 09
Finance News.............................. 11
Livestock news........................... 13
Technology News....................... 42
Academic News.......................... 44
Agri-Inputs news......................... 46
Supply chain news..................... 48
Let’s talk Agriculture .................. 50
8 YOUR VIEWS AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
TOP VIDEO
Sanjay Sacheti,
Country Head,
India Region
at Olam Agro
India Ltd speaks
about role of
Agri industry in
making agriculture
sustainable
Scan the QR Courtesy: FICCI Feedback
Code
Scan the QR Rahoul Sawani, Informative issue on
Code President, South Agri-finance
Scan the QR Asia at Corteva
Code Agriscience Thanks AgroSpectrum for providing
explains the need information about various government
of innovation schemes and agri- fintech startups for
for sustainable agriculture industry in November issue
agriculture. based on agri-finance. It is really useful
for budding agri-preneurs and modern
Courtesy: FICCI farmers.
Dr Sudhanshu, Sayali Unhale, Nagpur
Secretory ,
APEDA informs Interesting interviews
about status
of horticulture The interviews of Chattanath Devrajan,
export of India Co-founder & MD, Arya.org and Ashish
Anand, Co-founder & CEO, Whrrl published
Courtesy: FICCI in AgroSpectrum November 21 issue
are very interesting. It updates about the
current scenario in agri-finance and new
opportunities.
Nishad Shembekar, Mumbai
Issue on Contract farming
AgroSpectrum should publish a special
issue on Contract Farming. Since many
farmers and small agri-companies are not
well-aware about legal terms and laws
related contract farming, the information
about same will help the farmers and agri
industry as well.
Kalpita Kalshettiwar, Bangalore
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com POLICY NEWS 9
Tomar inaugurates Kisan Govt withdraws
Bhawan in Nagaland
3 farm laws
Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and
Farmers Welfare, virtually inaugurated Kisan Bhawan and Addressing the nation Narendra
Beekeeper Conference at the Central Institute of Horticulture, Modi, Prime Minister of India
Nagaland. Honey-producing farmers should move forward on November 20, declared
in collaboration with the state government. The Central that the government has
Government has stood with them shoulder to shoulder and decided to withdraw the three
step by step. In the programme organised under the Amrit contentious farm laws. Wishing
Mahotsav of Azadi, Tomar stated that the climate of the North- the people of the country on
East region is favourable for agriculture. The area is ideal the occasion of Guru Nanak
for the cultivation of horticultural crops especially fruits and Jayanti, Modi spoke about
vegetables, flowers and spices. Keeping in view the interests of the challenges faced by the
the small and marginal farmers of the North Eastern Region farmers of the country. The
in horticulture, the Central Institute of Horticulture, Nagaland Prime Minister pointed out
was established under the Central Sector Scheme of the Union that many initiatives have been
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. This institute was taken for the farmers to get the
established for the development of horticulture and upliftment right price for their produce, a
of the farmers. The state is working well with the government, result of their hard work. The
FPOs and other stakeholders. country has strengthened its
rural market infrastructure. The
Cabinet approves mechanism Prime Minister expressed his
for procurement of ethanol gratitude to the organisations,
farmers and individuals who
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime supported the move. The PM
Minister has given its approval for fixing higher ethanol prices announced the formation of
derived from different sugarcane-based raw materials under the a committee to promote zero
Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme for the forthcoming budgeting based agriculture, to
sugar season 2021-22 during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2021- change crop patterns as per the
22 from December 1, 2021, to November 30, 2022. The approval changing needs of the country
will not only facilitate the continued policy of the government and to make MSP more effective
in providing price stability and remunerative prices for ethanol and transparent. The committee
suppliers but will also help in reducing the pending arrears of will have representatives
cane farmers, dependency on crude oil imports and will also help of the central government,
state governments, farmers,
in savings in foreign exchange and benefit agricultural scientists, and
the environment. The decision to allow agricultural economists.
Oil Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs)
to decide the price of 2G ethanol
would facilitate setting up advanced
biofuel refineries in the country.
All distilleries will benefit from the
scheme and a large number of them
are expected to supply ethanol for
the EBP Programme.
10 P O L I C Y N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
Ag ministry identifies India signs
10 exotic fruit crops for
promotion COP26 action
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Narendra agenda on
Singh Tomar addressed a National Conference on 'International
Year of Fruits and Vegetables' organised by the Ministry of sustainable
Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare in collaboration with the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. agriculture
The minister also released operational guidelines for the
Horticulture Cluster Development Programme and QR code India has signed the sustainable
of the guidelines. The conference was organised as part of the agriculture action agenda after
celebration of the 'International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, the first week of the COP26
2021' declared by the United Nations Organisation. The climate summit in Glasgow,
ministry has identified 10 globally popular exotic fruit crops laying out new commitments
of commercial importance and 10 important indigenous fruit to make farming more
crops with high nutritional and nutraceutical properties. The sustainable and less polluting.
State Horticulture Departments have also been given targets The ‘Sustainable Agriculture
for the years 2021-22 regarding area expansion for these crops. Policy Action Agenda for the
During the current year, 8951 hectares area for exotic fruits Transition to Sustainable
and 7154 hectares area for indigenous fruits will be brought Agriculture and Global Action
under cultivation. Agenda for Innovation in
Agriculture’ was among the
GoI, ADB sign $100M highlight action pledges made
loan for agribusiness by the participating countries at
development in Maharashtra the 26th Conference of Parties
(COP26) of the United Nations
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC)
of India (GoI) have signed a $100 million loan to promote recently. The countries laid out
new commitments to change
an agribusiness network to boost farm incomes and reduce their agricultural policies to
become more sustainable and
food losses in the State of Maharashtra. Rajat Kumar Mishra, less polluting and to invest
in the science needed for
Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the sustainable agriculture and for
protecting food supplies against
Ministry of Finance signed for climate change. The World
Bank will commit to spending
the Government of India, the $25 billion in climate finance
annually to 2025 through its
agreement for the Maharashtra Climate Action Plan, including
a focus on agriculture and food
Agribusiness Network systems.
(MAGNET) Project, while Takeo
Konishi, Country Director of
ADB’s India Resident Mission
signed for ADB. The project will
help small and marginal farmers
in Maharashtra improve their
post-harvest and marketing capacity, reduce food losses, and
increase incomes through access to finance, capacity building,
and horticulture value chain infrastructure development. The
project supports agribusiness development in Maharashtra
with holistic support to on-farm improvement in productivity,
up-gradation of post-harvest facilities, and establishing efficient
marketing structures to benefit horticulture producers.
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com F I N A N C E N E W S 11
Best Agrolife to acquire formulation
unit in J&K for Rs 10.22 Cr
Best Agrolife Ltd (BAL), is going ahead with the acquisition of the
Plant & Machinery, and stock of a formulation unit through a cash deal
of Rs 10.22 crore. Owned by one of its partner firms, the unit is situated
at Phase-1, SIDCO Industry Complex, IGC Samba, Jammu & Kashmir. The
company has initiated and executed an agreement for the same and expects completion of this
process by December 21, 2021, or such other date as may be mutually agreed between the parties.
The acquisition will be beneficial for the company in many ways and it will increase the company’s
revenue by Rs 150 crore approximately. This plant will be specifically dedicated to proprietary
formulations like WG, SC, and EC. Above all, it has its state-of-art formulation Research &
Development facility to support the development of new products niche formulations.
IIL registers net RCF posts net profit
profit of Rs 41.87 Cr of Rs 117.92 Cr in
in Q2FY22 Q2FY22
Insecticides (India) Limited (IIL) has posted a Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) has
net profit of Rs 41.87 crore for the second quarter reported a net profit of Rs 117.92 crore for the
ended September 30, 2021, as against a net profit quarter ended September 30, 2021, against Rs
of Rs 34.96 crore for the period ended June 30, 103.88 crore in the corresponding quarter of
2021. The company had posted a net profit of Rs the previous year and Rs 207.48 crore in the
41.60 crore for the period ended September 30, previous quarter (QoQ). The company posted a
2020. The company has reported a total income of total income of Rs 2648.10 crore for the quarter
Rs 443.62 crore during the Q2 ended September ended September 30, 2021, against Rs 2349.03
30, 2021, as compared to Rs 469.89 crore during crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous
the Q1 ended June 30, 2021. The company had year (YoY) and Rs 2417.26 crore in the previous
reported a total income of Rs 460.89 crore during quarter (QoQ). For the half-year ended September
the period ended September 30, 2020. During 30, 2021, RCF has reported a total income of Rs
the six months ended September 30, 2021, the 5065.36 crore, against Rs 3998.67 crore during
company has reported a total income of Rs 913.51 the half-year ended September 30, 2020. The net
crore as compared to Rs 871.6207 crore during the profit was at Rs 325.40 crore for the six months
6 months ended September 30, 2020. ended September 30, 2021, compared to Rs
123.08 crore for the half-year ended FY 2021.
12 F I N A N C E N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
DGV bags $3.1M Pre-Series A funding from
Info Edge Ventures, Omnivore
Digivriddhi Technologies (DGV), a dairy industry-focussed Neo-Banking startup, has raised a $3.1
million Pre-Series-A round from Info Edge Ventures and Omnivore. Through its assisted digital
platform, DGV has chosen to focus on India’s 75 million dairy farmers, providing them access
to formal banking and world-class financial services. DGV is currently working with some of
India’s leading cooperative dairy unions, and their respective milk cooperative societies and
farmers, by providing them access to payments, liabilities, and asset products through its
partnership with Federal Bank. DGV is building a Neo-banking platform for dairy farmers
by digitising the entire payment stack using Aadhaar, National Payment Switch and
Micro ATM technology with plans to build various financial products customised to
credit, insurance and other needs of these farmers. Under this arrangement, Federal
Bank is providing API Banking services across payments, liabilities, and relevant
asset products to Dairy Farmers in Gujarat.
Best Agrolife posts Godrej Agrovet
revenue of Rs 668.95 Cr registers PBT of
for period ending Rs 2,159.7 Cr in Q2FY22
Sept 30, 2021
Godrej Agrovet has reported its financial
New Delhi-based Best Agrolife has registered performance for the second quarter and half year
revenue of Rs 668.95 crore for the period ending ended September 30, 2021, of the financial year
September 30, 2021, registering a jump of 4.43 per 2021-22. The company reported consolidated total
cent over previous year of Rs 640.60 crore with an income and consolidated profit before tax of Rs
EBITDA of Rs 71.29 crore. The profit after tax was 2,159.7 crore and Rs 149.8 crore, respectively. For the
at Rs 50.73 crore. The company’s profit before tax half-year ended September 30, 2021, the company
(PBT) for the first six months was Rs 67.92 crore reported consolidated total income and consolidated
that grew drastically five times compared to the profit before tax of Rs 4,162.9 crore and Rs 287.2
previous year’s Rs 12.57 crore. The company in its crore, respectively. For the animal feed business,
second quarter generated revenue of Rs 324.39 it was one of the best quarterly performances with
crore with a growth of 16.81 per cent - an EBITDA segment results growing by 21 per cent, supported
of Rs 35.23 crore and PAT of Rs 24.95 crore. The by volume growth, the introduction of new products
merged turnover of two subsidiaries- Best Crop and R&D benefits realisation. Vegetable oil benefited
Science and Seedlings India– will reflect from from higher oil prices and increased efficiencies and
the third quarter onward. The company expects a posted excellent segment results of Rs 78 crore for
growth of 30-35 per cent in revenue and PBT to the second quarter which was a 1.9x increase year-
change from 7 per cent to 11 per cent. on-year. Profitability of standalone crop protection
business declined by 24 per cent due to erratic and
inconsistent rainfall which reduced application
opportunities of agrochemicals.
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com L I V E S TO C K N E W S 13
Rupala launches AHDF KCC campaign for
livestock sector
A nationwide AHDF Kisan Credit Card (KCC) organising this campaign has been issued to States
campaign was virtually launched by Purshottam on November 10, 2021. Necessary instructions
Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal to banks as well as the State Government have
Husbandry and Dairying. To expand the benefit of also been issued by the Department of Financial
to all eligible animal husbandry, dairy and fishery Services. It is the need of the hour to provide
(AHDF) farmers in the country, the Department reverential recognition to landless, small and
of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in association marginal farmers and women involved in Animal
with the Department of Fisheries (DOF) and Husbandry activities in the country and meet
the Department of Financial Services (DFS), is their institutional credit requirement for working
organising a ‘Nationwide AHDF KCC Campaign’ capital needs through KCC so as to tap the
from November 15, 2021 to February 15, 2022. potential of the sector and increase employment
The circular conveying the detailed guidelines for generation and income.
Govt launches First Banni buffalo IVF
country’s first calf born in Gujarat
fisheries biz incubator
in Gurugram With the birth of the first IVF calf of a buffalo
breed namely Banni in the country, India’s Ovum
Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Pick-Up (OPU)-In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) work
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has reached to next level. The first IVF Banni calf
inaugurated the country’s first-of-its-kind, is born out of 6 Banni IVF pregnancies established
dedicated business incubator to be known as at the doorsteps of a farmer, Vinay L Wala of
LINAC- NCDC Fisheries Business Incubation Sushila Agro farms, located at Dhanej in Somnath
Centre (LlFlC) in Gurugram, Haryana costing district of Gujarat. The scientists aspirated three
Rs 3.23 crore to nurture fisheries startups Banni Buffaloes of Sushila Agro farms of Vinay L
under real market-led conditions. The Wala. They subjected 29 oocytes (egg cells) to an
incubation unit will provide hand holding intervaginal culture device (IVC) from these three
such as training, converting entrepreneurial Banni buffaloes. A total of 20 oocytes from one of
ideas into business models and doling out them were subjected to IVC. Both the government
seed money to the new as well as existing and the scientist fraternity see great potential in
business entrepreneurs keen to make big the field of IVF of buffaloes and are striving hard
in the segment. The National Cooperative to improve cattle wealth in the country.
Development Corporation (NCDC), an
implementing agency for the LIFIC, has
identified the first batch of ten incubators
from four states — Bihar, Himachal Pradesh,
Gujarat and Maharashtra. Out of them,
six are from newly-created Fish Farmers
Producer Organisations with the support of
the financial grant under the PMMSY.
14 L I V E S TO C K N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
NDDB signs MoU with Centre launches
UP Govt to manage 'Dairy Sahakar'
Varanasi Milk Union scheme
In an attempt to promote dairy farming in Uttar Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs
Pradesh, the State Government has requested the launched the Dairy Sahakar scheme at
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to Anand, Gujarat, during the 75th Foundation
manage the Varanasi Milk Union for five years. Year of Amul. The Dairy Sahakar with
NDDB has accepted the request of strengthening a total investment of Rs 5000 crore will
the state’s dairy cooperative business. A be implemented by National Cooperative
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to Development Corporation (NCDC) under
this effect was signed between Government of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of
Uttar Pradesh, Pradeshik Cooperative Dairy India to realise the vision, “from cooperation
Federation Ltd (PCDF), Varanasi Milk Union to prosperity". Under Dairy Sahakar, financial
and NDDB during a virtual ceremony. The MoU support will be extended by NCDC to eligible
will provide milk producers of Uttar Pradesh cooperatives for activities such as bovine
essential market access, while broadly keeping development, milk procurement, processing,
in view the sustainability and viability of the quality assurance, value addition, branding,
overall operations. Using biogas to run Varanasi packaging, marketing, transportation and
Milk Union’s dairy plant will be a path-breaking storage of milk and milk products, exports of
innovation. The unique technology-driven dairy products within the overall objectives
initiative will eventually bring rural prosperity. of 'Doubling the farmer's income' and
'Atmanirbhar Bharat.' Parshottam Rupala,
Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
and Dairying, Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief
Minister of Gujarat, Atul Chaturvedi,
Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry
and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal
Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India
were present on the occasion.
ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar in MoU to develop
selectively bred giant freshwater prawn
The ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater shall provide the brood seed of 'ICAR-CIFA-GI
Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar, Odisha Scampi' to the selected hatcheries for brood raising
developed a selectively bred, genetically improved and seed production in the upcoming season. It is
and fast-growing strain of giant freshwater expected that the selected Scampi Hatcheries will
prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii registered produce large quantities of improved seed 'ICAR-
as 'CIFA-GI Scampi.' The institute
provided the improved seeds to the three CIFA-GI Scampi' for supply to the farmers
commercial hatcheries for across the country which,
brooder development and in turn, help in higher
further dissemination to the production and
farmers through the Memorandum income for the
of Understanding (MoU) held farmers.
recently. As per the MoU, the institute
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O V E R S TO RY 15
COVER STORY
Floriculture
Boom Adds to
Agri Growth
Bouquet
The Government of India has identified floriculture as a sunrise industry and accorded
it 100 per cent export oriented status. Floriculture in India, is being viewed as a high
growth Industry. Commercial floriculture is becoming important from the export angle.
The liberalisation of industrial and trade policies paved the way for development of
export-oriented production of cut flowers. The new seed policy had already made it
feasible to import planting material of international varieties. According to IMARC, a
market research company, the Indian floriculture market is expected to reach a value
of Rs 661 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 19.2 per cent during 2021-2026. As
per figures provided by Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA), the country has exported 15,695.31 Metric Tonnes (MT) of floriculture
products to the world for the worth of Rs 575.98 crore/($77.84 million) in 2020-21. We
take a closer look at the projection for this new ray of agri growth for India.
16 C O V E R S TO RY AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
Floriculture has become a very lucrative Echoing similar sentiments, Vaibhav Sharma,
sector recently owing to the increase Founder & Director, impexperts - world of
in demand all over the globe. Due to import export said, “Country’s floriculture sector
this hike, many farmers have shifted is blossoming well because we have some of
from traditional farming of grains and veggies the best quality home grown products for the
to cultivating flowers. As per APEDA, like every international market. For example, Indian roses
year, this year also witnessed a great demand grown in Bengaluru and Pune have the biggest
for India’s floriculture products in international demand in Europe and the United Kingdom.
markets with the USA, The Netherlands, UAE, Similarly, during the time of Valentine’s day
the UK and Germany being major importing and Christmas, flower export from India is at
countries of Indian floriculture. peak especially for beautiful Indian roses. Apart
from all these, country’s domestic consumption
To further strengthen this sector, on March of floriculture products is also on the higher-
4, 2021, the then Union Minister Dr Harsh side making the industry rightly poised for
Vardhan, Ministry of Science & Technology, exponential growth in both domestic and
virtually launched the Council of Scientific & international market.”
Industrial Research (CSIR) Floriculture Mission
and exhorted scientists of CSIR laboratories Adding organic aroma -
across the country to develop the land available the fragrance sector
at each laboratory to be set up as a model
under this mission. CSIR Floriculture Mission Like many sectors, floriculture industry too
has been approved for implementation in 21 has an allied sector that has been one of the
States and Union Territories of India wherein most driving forces for this industry. India has
available knowledge base in CSIR Institutes will always been a land of olfactory indulgence, where
be utilised and leveraged to help Indian farmers aromatherapy, incense and ittar have existed
and industry reposition itself to meet the import since ancient times, where essential oil perfume
requirements. were a part of the ancient royal lore. The earliest
scents used were the healing scents introduced
The CSIR Floriculture Mission is expected through Ayurveda, which recommended the
to create opportunities for entrepreneurship use of aromatic herbs and fragrant plants for
development in floriculture. Infusion of latest mental well-being, beauty, treatment of ailments,
technologies in the field of floriculture can be hygiene and age-control which are well known
successfully led by CSIR. The mission will focus even today. This traditional fragrance industry in
on commercial floral crops, seasonal/annual India has seen vast changes in the recent years
crops, wild ornaments and cultivation of flower with the introduction of technology and wider
crops for honey bee rearing. Some of the popular usage. The Indian fragrance industry is one of the
crops include Gladiolus, Canna, Carnation, largest in terms of production, consumption and
Chrysanthemum, Gerbera, Lilium, Marigold, at present, the fragrance market is set to grow
Rose, Tuberose etc. The Indian floriculture and offer innumerable opportunities for new
market was worth Rs 15,700 crore in 2018, and it entrants to grow in this market.
is projected to reach Rs 47,200 crore by 2024.
The application of pure flower extracts
Elaborating further on this sector, Omkar in perfumery is mainly in fine fragrance and
Baban Dangale, CA, BSD Farms, Pune, stated, aromatherapy markets. COVID-19 has reiterated
“It’s said – “Future is what we create,” and and increased awareness to maintain a healthy
for floriculture it’s all with the cultivators and mood and to reduce stress. People are finding
farmers like us to create a future for the industry. various ways to reduce stress and Aromatherapy
The Floriculture Industry will be blooming as is definitely a big help. Perfumes also exhibit
the government is also focusing its attention to a sense of hygiene and builds confidence in
agriculture by educating and providing subsidies oneself, and today’s youth is exceedingly aware
to use modern technologies like temperature of this thought. The rising disposable income
controlled greenhouse, drip irrigation systems and increased consumer awareness in India is
and use of cold storages. Having the above pushing the growth of natural fragrances.
technologies at ease will be the greatest advantage
to the floriculture Industry in the future.” The traditional process of fine fragrance
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O V E R S TO RY 17
India’s Floriculture Export products for the last three years
2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
Country Qty in Rs lakh US$ Qty in Rs lakh US$ Qty in Rs lakh US$ Mill
MT 14,692.43 Mill MT Mill MT 15,895.51
10,930.30 21.51
USA 4,038.07 7,789.14 21.09 3,276.08 13,902.70 19.49 3,139.19 3,443.22 14.74
3,434.08 11.23 10.97 1,603.87 3,312.10 4.67
Netherland 1,518.92 4,470.63 4.89 1,377.08 7,852.26 4.62 1,659.88
3,938.55 6.36 3,213.11 4.51
UAE 1,871.24 1,574.58 5.69 1,499.07 3,311.24 5.74 860.91 2,614.74 4.32
2,341.81 2.26 5.75 1,054.69 2,301.48 3.48
U K 1,530.01 1,578.90 3.37 1,236.74 4,091.67 1.84 1,767.47
1,478.01 2.25 2.84 114.16 1,119.58 3.1
Germany 1,251.71 1,607.44 2.12 1,112.52 4,093.47 2.27 485.65 1,044.08 2.4
42,905.57 1.79 235.31 45,641.59 1.52
Japan 310.37 2.3 205.46 1,311.67 1.42 1,418.93 1.42
57,141.28 61.56 56.73 61.67
Canada 878.99 393.05 2,012.07 57.71
10,630.30
Italy 403.24 358.8 1,613.63
Singapore 1,998.34 2,037.67 1,279.02
Australia 250.53 129.17 1,017.74
Grand 14,051.42 11,625.64 40,485.47
Total
Total 19,726.57 81.94 16,949.37 54,161.01 75.89 15,695.32 57,598.45 77.86
(Source: APEDA)
manufacturing was more based on subjective to this structure, we can maintain exceedingly
parameters, olfactory, consistency and colour stringent pesticide, phthalates, and heavy metal
being the main elements. To understand the limits in our products.”
future of fine fragrances, many companies
have built up their technological capability Polyhouse technology -
with best-in-class equipment. The use of a catalyst for Floriculture
sophisticated analytical test equipment like gas
chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography The concept of Polyhouse is derived from
mass spectrometry (GC-MS) along with a full- greenhouses that were constructed on wooden
fledged application lab provided us more insight frames where the glass was used as a cladding
into the isolation and consumer preference of material. However, with the introduction of
fragrance molecules. Now we can develop several plastic technology in agriculture, glass was
fragrance notes from the same flower through replaced by plastic film of high quality; 200
various molecule profiles by changing the microns thick, with a three year guarantee
process. against degradation due to UV and weather and
wooden frames were replaced by GI steel frames.
Enlarging on the performance and future These tweaks are helping to promote polyhouse
opportunities of this sector, Anirudh Ranga, technology in and across the country.
Managing Director, Natural And Essential Oils
Private Limited stated, “The global flavours and Dr (Prof.) Harish Hirani, Director, CSIR-
fragrance market was valued at $24 billion in Central Mechanical Engineering Research
2020 and India stood at $500 million (around Rs Institute (CMERI), Durgapur inaugurated a
3,600 crore). In order to meet the ever increasing ‘Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse Facility’ and laid
demand, we have transformed the way we source foundation stone of ‘Retractable Roof Polyhouse’
floral raw materials. With the use of technology at Ludhiana in Punjab. Informing more about the
such as DNA fingerprinting and Internet of technology, he stated, “The farmers face number
Things (IOT) in agriculture and blockchain we of problems such as excessive or insufficient cold,
are able to procure better quality flowers which heat, rain, wind, and other factors associated with
are fully traceable at fair price while ensuring insufficient transpiration, and also crop losses
sustainability. The raw material for all our in India due to insect pests is about 15 per cent
strategic products is now obtained through at present and this loss may increase as climate
contract farming and In-house cultivation. Due change lowers the plant defense system against
insects and pests. To some extent these problems
18 C O V E R S TO RY AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
can be overcome by conventional polyhouse. “The global flavours and
Conventional polyhouse have a stationary roof fragrance market was valued
to reduce the effect of weather anomalies and at $24 billion in 2020 and India
pests. However, there are still disadvantages stood at $500 million (around
due to roof covering which sometimes lead Rs 3,600 crore). To meet the
to excessive heat, and insufficient light (early ever-increasing demand, we
morning). Besides this, they are also prone to have transformed the way we
insufficient levels of CO2, transpiration and water source floral raw materials. With
stress. A combination of open field conditions the use of technology such as
and conventional Polyhouse conditions is a more DNA fingerprinting and Internet of Things (IoT) in
robust way to deal with climate change and agriculture and blockchain we are able to procure
associated problems in the future.” better quality flowers which are fully traceable
at fair price while ensuring sustainability. The
However, in order to overcome these raw material for all our strategic products is now
challenges of polyhouse, CMERI Extension obtained through contract farming and In-house
centre, Ludhiana is installing a ‘Retractable cultivation. Due to this structure, we can maintain
Roof Polyhouse Technology’. This all-weather exceedingly stringent pesticide, phthalates, and
structure will have an automatic retractable heavy metal limits in our products.”
roof which will be operated based on weather - Anirudh Ranga, Managing Director,
conditions and crop requirements from the
conditional database using PLC software. Natural And Essential Oils
This ongoing development will help farmers
to cultivate both seasonal and off-season “The farmers face number of
crops, which can fetch higher yield, firmer and problems such as excessive or
high shelf-life produce by creating optimal insufficient cold, heat, rain, wind,
indoor microclimate conditions compared to and other factors associated
conventional open field tunnels and naturally with insufficient transpiration,
ventilated poly houses, and also it is a viable and also crop losses in India
technology for organic cultivation. due to insect pests is about 15
per cent at present and this loss
Informing further on this new technology, may increase as climate change
Jagdish Manik Rao, Senior Scientist, CMERI lowers the plant defense
Extension centre, Ludhiana stated, “The system against insects and
retractable roof will be used to manipulate sun pests. To some extent these problems can be
light quantity, quality and duration, water stress, overcome by conventional polyhouse which have
humidity, carbon di-oxide levels, and crop and a stationary roof to reduce the effect of weather
soil temperatures.” anomalies and pests.”
- Dr (Prof.) Harish Hirani, Director, CSIR-Central
This system is being developed in Mechanical Engineering Research Institute
collaboration with CSIR- Institute of Himalayan
Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, obtained technical know how from Dutch and
Himachal Pradesh and in the process of Israeli consultants. Tax benefits are offered to
integrating Artificial Intelligence in automating new export oriented floriculture companies in the
the polyhouse based on the crop and weather form of income tax holidays and exemption from
requirements and providing an IoT enabled certain import duties such as reduction of duties
farmer friendly user interface. for import of flower seeds and tissue cultured
plants. Financial support is provided for setting
Governmental push up of pre cooling and cold storage units, as well
as for using improved packaging material.
Realising the immense potential of this trade,
the Government of India has been constantly Moreover, the central government along
pushing and promoting floriculture farming and with various state governments has managed to
business across the nation. Various incentives establish Agri Export Zones across the country.
offered by the government have enabled the The sole purpose of these zones is to provide
setting up of a number of floriculture units for healthy remunerations to the floriculture farmers
producing and exporting flowers which have and to increase the level of competition in the
domestic market. Presently, there are six Agri
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O V E R S TO RY 19
Export Zones installed in the country for the Flowers export from India with
development of floriculture in India. market share
In order to improve livelihood opportunities • Cut flowers, both fresh and dried - 72%
and to bring prosperity to NER (North Eastern • Foliage and plant parts - 17.16%
Region) including Sikkim and Himalayan states, • Rooted cuttings and spawn - 9.92%
Government of India has launched a Horticulture • Bulbs, roots and chicory - 1.05%
Mission for North East and Himalayan States
(HMNEHS) for Integrated Development of Major global Importers with
Horticulture. The mission is based on the ‘end market share
to end approach’ taking into account the entire
gamut of horticulture development with all • Germany 30.3% • France 9.7%
backward and forward linkages in a holistic
manner. As per the Operational Guidelines 2010 • USA 16.8% • Netherlands 8.4%
of HMNEHS, the Mission will operate in North
Eastern States (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, • UK 9.7%
Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland,
Sikkim and Tripura) and Himalayan States Major global Exporters with
(Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and market share
Uttarakhand) to promote holistic growth of
horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, • Netherlands - 56.5% • Kenya - 2.1%
flowers etc. HMNEH is a centrally sponsored • Columbia - 14.1% • India - 0.3%
scheme for which 100 per cent assistance is • Israel - 4.2%
provided by the Government of India.
International Floriculture Market
Before 2014-15, the mission was being
implemented through four Mini Missions i.e. Mini To be precise the floriculture industry
Mission-I (Research), Mini Mission-II (Production worldwide has been dominated by the
& Productivity Improvement), Mini Mission-III Netherland, Columbia, and Italy including
(Post Harvest Management & Marketing) and African countries like Kenya, Tanzania,
Mini Mission-IV (Processing & Value addition). Zambia, South Korea and Israel. Thereby,
During 2014-15 with a view to promote holistic
development of horticulture sector in the country, Europe is the largest followed by
Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Netherlands as both, producer as well as
Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, has exporter. India and Japan are important
approved a Mission for Integrated Development competitors. The most important flower in
of Horticulture (MIDH) by subsuming ongoing demand internationally is Indian roses but
schemes of National Horticulture Mission Dendranthema, Dianthus, Chrysanthemum,
(NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East and Carnation, Gerbera, Dahlia, Poinsettia, orchids,
Himalayan States (HMNEH), National Bamboo Lily,
Mission (NBM), National Horticulture Board
(NHB), Coconut Development Board (CDB) Tulip are also in the row of rose
and Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH), competitors. The major importers of Indian
Nagaland. HMNEH continues to be implemented flowers are the US, Western Europe, Singapore,
in all North East and Himalayan states with Japan and South Korea. Within Southeast Asia,
revised cost norms and pattern of assistance countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia
during the remaining period of 12th five year plan. and those in Eastern Europe are coming up
All the four mini missions of HMNEH now have as consumers. Further, when it comes to the
been clubbed in the scheme. global production of flowers, the Netherlands
takes the first spot with 56 per cent of the
In order to promote polyhouse systems market, followed by Columbia and Kenya.
across the country, Centre along with the state
governments is providing subsidies to encourage (Source- vakilsearch.com)
shade house and polyhouse farming. Activities
such as construction of greenhouses, shade net
20 C O V E R S TO RY AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
house, plastic mulching and plastic tunnels, anti- “It’s said - future is what we
bird/ hail nets are being promoted under Mission create, and for floriculture it’s
for Integrated Development of Horticulture all with the cultivators and
(MIDH) guidelines. National Horticulture farmers like us to create a
Board (NHB) and National Horticulture Mission future for the industry. The
(NHM) under MIDH guidelines provide subsidies Floriculture Industry will be
to farmers. NHB provides 50 per cent subsidy on blooming as the Government
a project cost per beneficiary and the NHM which is also focusing its attention
is a mission scheme of the government, provides to agriculture by educating
a subsidy of 50 per cent of the project cost. and providing subsidies to use
modern technologies like temperature controlled
Through these schemes, farmers can install Greenhouse, drip irrigation systems and use of
these units at almost half the cost. Additionally, cold storages. Having the above technologies
every state is running its own State Horticulture will be the greatest advantage to the floriculture
Mission (SHM) where a top-up subsidy of industry in the future.”
15 - 40 per cent or more depending on state - Omkar Baban Dangale, CA, BSD Farms
government policy may be provided on the 50
per cent provided by NHM, making the total “Country’s floriculture sector is
subsidy ranging between 50 and 90 per cent state blossoming well because we
wise. So, the input cost for the farmer going for have some of the best quality
polyhouse cultivation is low and affordable. home grown products for
the international market. For
Roadmap ahead example, Indian roses grown in
Bengaluru and Pune have the
The floriculture industry relies heavily on biggest demand in Europe and
innovation. As repeatedly stated, improved the United Kingdom. Similarly,
agricultural practices such as organic farming during the time of Valentine’s
and intelligent technology based farming will day and Christmas, flower
increase flower yield per acre and thus income. export from India is at peak specially for beautiful
Indian roses.”
Elaborating further on the future growth - Vaibhav Sharma, Founder & Director,
of floriculture sector in India, Omkar Baban impexperts - world of import export
Dangale stated, “The best opportunities for
cultivators in floriculture is that, as many were Anirudh Ranga opined that the rise of
affected by COVID-19 and were unable to run the perfumery industry, as well as various
their polyhouses, one can approach them to policy initiatives from the Central and State
buy their polyhouses and their set-ups. This is Governments, facilitated the growth of
the best opportunity as one can rapidly expand floriculture in India. The Indian floriculture
their business. Taking tax into consideration, market is expected to reach Rs 661 billion by
floriculture falls under the term 'agricultural 2026, growing at a 19.2 per cent CAGR. The
income' as per Income Tax and the whole of metros and larger Indian cities are currently
the income is tax free and it's a direct saving of the country's largest consumers of flowers. The
almost 30 per cent of your money you make from consumption of flowers is expected to rise further
your business. People should take advantage was as a result of urbanisation and the growing
such provisions and shift towards floriculture.” influence of Western culture.
Further, there is a strong need to promote Aside from aesthetic and decorative purposes,
rainwater harvesting and solar farming. Similarly, the essential oil and perfume industries make
development of greenhouse clusters, promotion extensive use of flower produce. Because this
of crop-specific self-help groups should be industry is expanding, flower consumption
encouraged. Training and entrepreneurship will rise as well. Following the long COVID-19
promotion are needed for production and export lockdown, the demand for perfumes, essential
of dry flowers. Rural transportation, logistics, oils, and direct flowers for various purposes has
mobile cold storage facilities need to be created increased, bringing back happy memories to the
for the loose flower sector, which is the mainstay floriculture industry.
of Indian floriculture.
Nitin Konde
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com H U R D L E S 21
How's Floriculture Bogged
by Challenges?
Despite being crowned as the sunrise industry, the floriculture sector in India is still
struggling with various ongoing challenges. India is rich in bio-diversity and varied
agro-climatic regions. Challenges such as lack of knowledge about greenhouse,
irrigation management, plant protection, non-availability of modern farming tools
and techniques, lack of information regarding import and export business are still
major concerns of this sector. Globally 171 countries practice floriculture. India
occupies 51st position in terms of exports and contributes Rs 455 crore which
is 0.06 per cent of global trade. Though India has the great potential to become
one of the leaders of the floriculture sector owing to its great flora and fauna, the
ongoing challenges are scaling down its efforts to ramp up its production.
According to a report by the Food and time we had our own share of experience with
Agriculture Organisation of the United the opportunities and threats associated with the
Nations, the flower industry in India floriculture industry.”
caters to a huge domestic market and
provides livelihoods to workers and farmers in He further added that being a developing
rural areas for several months in a year. As per industry, entering the industry is quite a difficult
IMARC, a market research company, the Indian task. Setting up a polyhouse puts a barrier to
floriculture market was worth Rs 18,870 crore entry as it requires a huge capital and subsidies
in 2019. The market was projected to reach Rs provided are not enough. Moreover the changing
55,790 crore by 2025, with a compound annual weather is affecting the production capacity. But
growth rate of 19.8 per cent during 2020-2025. once the production gets in full swing the output
However, the growth prospects appear quite is quite impressive.
bleak now, as the sector confronts disaster.
Transportation hassle
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry
(MoCI), promotes floriculture as an export- The main reason India is lacking behind in
oriented industry. In 2018-19, 19,726.57 exports is due to costlier transport charges and
Metric Tonnes (MT) of flowers worth Rs therefore not able to provide competitive rates in
571.38 crore were exported from India through international markets. Further exporting flowers,
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export a perishable item, is not an easy task and most of
Development Authority (APEDA). However, the cultivators and traders avoid the same. If in
the current picture is not as blooming as it has future procedures to ship flowers internationally
been projected, there are several issues that are become easier and costs of transport are reduced,
hampering the growth of the floriculture sector in India has a great chance to become one the major
India. flower exporter countries of the world.
Giving the clue about the challenges involved Like all perishable products, floriculture
in this trade, Omkar Baban Dangale, CA, BSD produce demands sensitive handling and
Farms, Pune stated, “My family had first entered transportation support. In the absence of robust
into the floriculture industry around 2015 by and sustainable logistics mechanisms more than
setting up a polyhouse for cultivation Dutch red half of floriculture produce ends up as waste even
Rose in village Pait, near Pune city. From that before they arrive in the market.
Being a fresh perishable produce that requires
22 H U R D L E S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
a provision of fastest transport with storage at the “Most countries now expect
receiving end, floriculturists are always on a look the fine fragrance supplier to
out for innovative and fast solutions to minimise adhere to regulatory limits for
the wastage and maximise their profits. contaminants like pesticides,
allergens etc. At NESSO,
Dr Shivaprasad HN, Managing Director, we realised this long back
Manipal Natural Pvt Ltd stated, “We should and continually invested in
also keep in mind that fresh perishables must advanced R&D and QC facilities.
not be stored at production centres but moved We have worked on improving
to demand side while still young and firm to the product quality to meet
withstand rigours of transport. To solve this international regulations. Perfume companies
issue, Indian Railways with its pan-India deep need to research and upgrade existing processes
penetrative network is the optimal and preferred to stay relevant in the market.”
choice for movement of floricultural produce.
Our cultivators can reduce the wastage of their - Anirudh Ranga,
product drastically by using the rail transport Managing Director, Natural And Essential Oils
system. However, owing to the lack of railways’
skills to handle perishable materials, leaves “For export of flowers, air
cultivators with only one other option: road freight rates are very exorbitant
transport to get their product shipped to the compared to other countries;
market.” this is also an obstacle in
transportation. The competition
Railways are potent enough to provide faster in an international arena has
transport facilities to floriculturists as it can cover been increasing with the entry
longer distances in a shorter time. Additionally, it of new African countries in
also allows farmers to expand their market reach, the global trade. The major
especially the perishable crops. While existing marketing challenges faced
trade into local markets will continue, the by the Indian flower growers and exporters are
amount that is surplus to the localised demand related to low level of product diversification and
can be safely connected to consumers far away, challenges related to quality concerns. Increase
thereby mitigating loss and increasing recovery in involvement of super markets in flower trade,
from surplus. organising logistics are also becoming a critical
factor for Indian flower exporters.”
Dr Shivaprasad further added that there is - Dr K.L. DangiI, Professor, MPUAT, Udaipur
a strong need for creating a robust storage and
transport system and for this heavy investments Marketing and exports hurdles
are required from both government and private
players as well. “If we are able to create such Marketing of the flowers is the main issue
a network for perishable products then it will while calculating net profit of the produce.
not only generate jobs but it will also empower There are various stages in marketing of
villages and small towns because most of these floriculture produce i.e. assembling, grading,
jobs will be generated at the local level.” packaging and transportation. There are various
marketing channels from producer to consumer.
Echoing similar thoughts, Omkar Baban These market related challenges affected the
Dangale said, “Having a cold house has already floriculture industry in India. From marginal
solved the storage problems and has helped farmers to big exporters there are much more
a lot to keep the produce fresh and increase constraints regarding marketing and export of
the shelf life of the produce. So having a floriculture produce. At the marketing stage,
continuous technological enhancement is only major challenges faced by the Indian flower
going to bring positive results to the industry. exporters are related to product diversification
The biggest technological enhancement we and differentiation, vertical integration and
need in the industry is proper transportation innovation, quality and environmental issues.
for perishable products and reasonable rates. With increasing involvement of the super market
Having a good transport system benefits the in flower trade, organising logistics is also
cultivator to discover new markets and increase becoming a critical factor for the Indian flower
his reach.” exporter.
Speaking about the current challenges,
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com H U R D L E S 23
Dr K.L. DangiI, Professor, Maharana Pratap “We should also keep in mind
University of Agriculture and Technology that fresh perishables must
(MPUAT), Udaipur said, “For export of flowers, not be stored at production
air freight rates are very exorbitant compared centres but moved to the
to other countries. This is also an obstacle demand side while still young
in transportation. The competition in an and firm to withstand rigours of
international arena has been increasing with transport. To solve this issue,
the entry of new African countries in the global Indian Railways with its pan-
trade. The major marketing challenges faced India deep penetrative network
by the Indian flower growers and exporters are is the optimal and preferred
related to low level of product diversification and choice for movement of floricultural produce.
challenges related to quality concerns. Increase Our cultivators can reduce the wastage of their
in involvement of super markets in flower trade, product drastically by using the rail transport
organising logistics are also becoming a critical system. “
factor for Indian flower exporters.”
- Dr Shivaprasad HN,
Shortage of air freight capacity especially in Managing Director, Manipal Natural
peak periods leads to blockage at the airport.
This is the serious disadvantage to perishable “My family had first entered into
product i.e. flowers. High freight rates for export the floriculture industry around
also affect the floriculture trade as air freight 2015 by setting up a Polyhouse
rates for transporting flowers from India are very for cultivation Dutch red Rose
exorbitant compared to other countries. in Village Pait, Near Pune City.
From that time we had our
Similar challenges could be easily observed own share of experience with
in the floriculture sector’s allied industry, the the opportunities and threats
fragrance sector as well. On the other hand, associated with the floriculture
from availability of farm labour to pluck flowers industry.”
at the right time, transportation of flowers to
production units and logistics issues to reach - Omkar Baban Dangale,
products to customers, all have been a challenge CA, BSD Farms
the last two years due to COVID-19.
along with fair wage principles,” Ranga added.
Anirudh Ranga, Managing Director Natural Despite ongoing challenges of India’s
And Essential Oils Private Limited (NESSO)
said, “Most countries now expect the fine floriculture sector, the industry is still rightly
fragrance supplier to adhere to regulatory limits poised for exponential growth in the coming
for contaminants like pesticides, allergens years. Government of India must consider
etc. At NESSO, we realised this long back and amending the assistance guidelines for
continually invested in advanced R&D and QC agriculture under State Disaster Response Fund
facilities. We have worked on improving the (SDRF)/ National Disaster Response Fund
product quality to meet international regulations. (NDRF) to provide immediate input subsidy
Perfume companies need to research and to flower farmers, for loss of income from
upgrade existing processes to stay relevant in the continued disability to both sell produce and
market.” maintain present infrastructure. The industry
is also looking forward to the government to
Another hurdle is the unpredictable quality, bring flowers under subsidised agriculture crop
yield and price fluctuation. To overcome this insurance. Specialty crops like flowers need
problem, NESSO entered into contract farming protection under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima
and handholds its farmers to achieve high yield, Yojana (PMFBY). More startups need to join
consistent quality flowers. Transforming the hands with floriculturists as this combination has
supply chain was paramount to ensure NESSO the potential to change the entire phase of the
procures highest quality flowers in an ethical, trade. Any future floriculture development plans
sustainable and traceable way. “We have ensured must be revisited; willing growers must be given
our farmers' growth through continuous training easy credit (such as interest-free loans) with
on improved and organic cultivation practices insistence on both public safety measures and
environment-friendly technologies.
Nitin Konde
24 S TA RT U P S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
Blossoming Indian
Floriculture startup industry
The floriculture industry has tremendous scope and opportunities and has become
an integral part of the modern lifestyle. Flowers have always been an integral part
of Indian culture going beyond religion, communities and cultures, no ceremony,
no celebration is complete without flowers. Flowers have been cultivated for
centuries for purposes ranging from prayer, decoration, cooking, fragrance,
weddings, funerals, gifting, flavours, natural colour, medicines, etc. We examine the
inroads made by startups in the floriculture space in India.
These unprecedented times have is the floriculture industry which took a severe
impacted various businesses differently, hit due to the pandemic, as India moves towards
the pandemic has been a boon for some the post-COVID-19 era the industry looks to
industries and for some industries the start blooming again. The floriculture industry
impact has been disastrous. has tremendous scope and opportunities and
has become an integral part of the modern
One such blossoming industry in the country
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S TA RT U P S 25
lifestyle. Flowers have always been an integral suffered during the lockdowns, leading to
part of Indian culture going beyond religions, businesses temporarily shutting operations or
communities and cultures, no ceremony, no discontinuing business permanently. This has
celebration is complete without flowers. Flowers also led to a huge financial burden on the farmers
have been cultivated for centuries for purposes as they fear that more restrictions will have a
ranging from prayers, decoration, cooking, devastating impact on them.
fragrances, weddings, funerals, gifting, flavours,
natural colour, medicines, etc. Nidhi Gupta, CEO, Shades of Spring,
Bengaluru, shares, “Flower industry is one of
Post 2016 the demand for flowers has the most impacted industries during both the
seen exponential growth as more and more lockdowns. More than 50 per cent of farmers
entrepreneurs have ventured into the floriculture have either stopped growing or moved to growing
business opening an array of flower gifting vegetables which are not impacted by pandemic.”
options across the nation. Earlier florists were
mainly concentrated in urban areas but with Farmers associated with Shades of Spring
the option of doorstep delivery, placing orders even during the lockdowns had consistent
online and the influence of the western culture, business and as the market has opened up the
the market is much more diversified with a larger business is picking up and is bound to grow at a
reach. rapid pace.
About 145 countries have a booming Not all florists have been lucky in their
floriculture industry with countries like the business during the lockdowns, Samarth
Netherlands, the US, Columbia and Italy being Gupta, Co-Founder, Firorella, Delhi, had to
the largest growers and traders. The Netherlands deal with challenges that came about due to
is the largest exporter globally with world exports the exponential spread to COVID-19 across the
during 2018 being 43.7 per cent. According to an country. He remarked, “During the pandemic
article in, The Journal of Horticulture Science initially when the lockdown started opening we
and Biotechnology titled: Floriculture sector still didn’t want to put our staff in trouble by
in India: current status and export potential, sourcing fresh roses from the mandi. We decided
India is the second-largest flower growing to sell only forever roses which last for two years,
country after China and is at the 14th position in which were already in stock so that the hassle of
exporting floriculture products. However, India’s procuring fresh flowers was ruled out.”
percentage share in global floriculture exports is
only 0.40 per cent in 2018. Running a lucrative business is no easy feat
and to survive in uncertain times is a different
The Indian floriculture market is expected to challenge altogether. The Lily Factory had to
reach a value of Rs 661 billion by 2026, exhibiting change its course of conducting business when
a CAGR of 19.2 per cent during 2021-2026, the pandemic engulfed the nation. Pranav
according to a IMARC report. The Government Chandra, Partner, The Lily Factory, Noida,
of India has identified floriculture as a sunrise remarks, “We have shifted our focus to the
industry and accorded it 100 per cent export- nursery business growing potted plants. So if a
oriented status. Agricultural and Processed situation arrives where the sale avenues are shut
Food Products Export Development Authority then our crop will just get more time to grow and
(APEDA), is responsible for export promotion multiply. We still grow lilies and will continue to
and development of floriculture in India. do so but the pandemic taught us to hedge our
bets."
Impact of COVID-19 on business
Chandra concludes, “Since quality will always
The lockdowns haven’t been easy on any beat quantity, we intend to do the best possible
business, especially businesses that deal in crop in the right seasons and focus on the nursery
perishables. The pandemic has caused a major part of the business and keep growing it.”
change in the thought process as perishable crops
no matter how lucrative they may seem have Challenges with the industry
incurred major losses as local mandis were shut
overnight and millions of flowers were destroyed A major challenge that the industry faces is
in the process. The floriculture industry has the absence of any form of a regulatory body that
controls the quality and the pricing of the flowers.
This leads to a very chaotic business atmosphere
26 S TA RT U P S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
with a lot of undercutting, giving the middlemen “Flower industry is one of the
more power and the farmers are left to the mercy most impacted industries
of these middlemen. The farmers as well have during both the lockdowns.
no unions where they can get together and take More than 50 per cent of
control of the market and get the right value for farmers have either stopped
their produce. growing or moved to growing
vegetables which are not
Sharing his views on how the uncertainty of impacted by pandemic.”
price impacts the business, Samarth Gupta adds,
“The huge challenge that we face is during the - Nidhi Gupta,
wedding season, the cost for a bundle of rose goes CEO, Shades of Spring
up to Rs 600 a bunch which as a brand owner
troubles us as we don’t increase the price of our “During the pandemic initially
products nor do we do comprise on our quality.” when the lockdown started
opening we still didn’t want
Commenting on the influence of prices on to put our staff in trouble by
the business Nidhi Gupta comments, “Due to sourcing fresh roses from the
extremely abrupt supply and demand of flowers, mandi. We decided to sell only
cost of flowers has increased three times as forever roses which last for
compared to last year. This has shrunk the two years, which were already
margins for retailers who have now either shut in stock so that the hassle of
permanently or temporarily or are selling very procuring fresh flowers was
poor quality flowers to sustain their businesses. ruled out.”
- Samarth Gupta, Co-Founder, Firorella
The Indian floriculture industry may be the
second-largest exporter second only to China “We have shifted our focus to
in the Asian continent but the lack of quality the nursery business growing
produce, not meeting international quality potted plants. So if a situation
standards, unorganised market, lack of integrated arrives where the sale avenues
cold chain management and distribution are shut then our crop will just
channels have hampered the growth of the get more time to grow and
industry. multiply. We still grow lilies
and will continue to do so but
Opportunities ahead the pandemic taught us to
hedge our bets.”
Though the industry largely remains
unorganised, it is booming and has tremendous - Pranav Chandra,
potential. Flowers are becoming a popular choice Partner, The Lily Factory
of gifts and they also play a significant role in
various industries, especially the pharma, food, flowers in international markets. The new seed
decor and fragrance industries. Florists aren’t policy has made it easier in procuring seeds and
just dependent on flowers for business as they plants of international varieties.
supplement the flowers with other gifting items
such as cakes, chocolates, beverages, potted Floriculture is a very lucrative business
plants and more, this has helped the industry as it has higher potential per unit area when
sustain and grow. compared to a lot of field crops. The Indian
floriculture market has been witnessing growth
The number of consumers buying flowers has year on year. Due to the steady increase
increased, buying patterns have changed leading in demand, floriculture has become a very
to consumers purchasing flowers multiple times important commercial trade in agriculture. The
a year as compared to a few times a year. With Indian floriculture industry is viewed as a high
more varieties, available consumers also have a growth industry, making commercial floriculture
wide range of choices and florists are improving a hi-tech activity under controlled climatic
their portfolio with the addition of more flowers, conditions. The liberalised economy is providing
gifting options and subscriptions. impetus to Indian entrepreneurs to venture into
the floriculture industry.
Liberalisation of industrial and trade policies
have paved the path for growth and export of cut Prabhat Prakash
[email protected]
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Plugging the many gaps in
Indian Floriculture sector
Despite suffering huge losses during the pandemic induced lockdowns, the
floriculture industry in India is trying to push hard by collaborating with flower
farmers for better prices and quality. Exporters are hoping for better transport
facilities, cold storage and low air freight and financial assistance from the
government for the growth of the floriculture industry.
The Floriculture market in India has fests, religious foundations, closure of all the
incurred Rs 100 crore loss which it still hotels, event stations, auditoriums including the
finds difficult in the export business as it hospitality sector. There was a little sign of relief
is facing the hiked freight charges. In the spotted when the Government of India made
wake of nationwide lockdown the transportation an announcement where partial functioning of
was almost hindered, corroding the export retails shops were allowed. After the close perusal
import business of the entire floriculture of floriculture markets, governments of states
industry. There was a two phased lockdown since like West Bengal and Odisha called upon all the
the pandemic got its surge to the highest (phase1 flower shops to open it on a daily basis despite
was lifted in the month of May 2020 and phase stringent ongoing lockdown. Albeit, the demand
2 ended its severity by June 2021) thereby, it for all types of flowers fell short when compared
become a real hard for both, the cultivators and with the pre-lockdown phase.
the exporters as the export and demand was
dwindled over the past couple of years. The commercial floriculture deals with the
cut flower, potted flowers, seeds, loose flowers,
COVID-19 had restricted all the social and leafy vegetables inclusive of exotic and
gatherings which can be weddings, cultural ornamental, all of which are highly perishable
28 C O V I D - 1 9 AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
in nature hence they need to be sold real quick. “There was a time after the
There were a few online delivery websites like second surge when we had
Ferns N petals, Swiggy which cratered to include limited stocks available
flowers in their profile, this shift in supply specially Hydrangea and lily,
brought good news in floriculture sectors but only thereby our company relied
in urban areas. entirely on just one wholesaler
instead of dealing with the
As per the estimated data released by IMRC, a farmers. We are happy to
market research company, the Indian floriculture announce that we have
market claimed to have a total worth of about ventured into the event decors,
Rs 18,870 crore with an anticipation to climb Rs bridal showers, and birthday events and beyond.
22,790 by 2025 before the onset of COVID-19. We are also functioning with our deliveries in
Earlier, the market experienced the rate of the Delhi”.
growing pace for about 19.8 per cent.
- Aashey Shah,
APEDA assistance Founder, Beyond Balloons
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, “Due to COVID-19,
fostering floriculture as an export-oriented transportation was hindered
industry. In the fiscal year of 2018, 19,726.57 and then there was a hike
metric tonnes (MT) of flowers having the in the air freight charges.
total worth no less than Rs 571.38 crore was There was a time when only
exported from India through Agricultural and essentials like food and drugs
processed Food Products Export development were allowed to be sold that
Authority (APEDA). The advisory team of resulted in ‘zero demand’
APEDA has drawn a conclusion by suggesting for flowers. All the business
Indian exporters that they can exploit the owners started taking their
supply gap of flowers from African countries to plunge and went online but we had to wait till the
European markets. The loss incurred from the time when the government lifted the lockdown
domestic market has left its adverse impact as and allowed the gatherings with limited guests”.
the estimated 99 per cent of flowers are traded
domestically. Referable to the livelihoods - George Chacko,
involved, some of the state governments like Managing Director, Floret Aroma
West Bengal and Odisha have opened their flower
sector despite the lockdown, much before the “The flower industry in India
other states. serves a large domestic
and export market while
Air freight woes also providing employment
to workers and farmers in
Commercial floriculture deals with loose rural areas. However, as
flowers, cut flowers and leafy vegetables as well a silver lining in the cloud,
as exotic and ornamentals. The highly p or less 15 the perfumery industry has
per cent) requires quick sales or a cold chain for assisted farmers by procuring
distant markets. The closure of air and surface flowers even during the
transport has brought the flower industry to a pandemic. NESSO, for example, launched its FOR
stalemate. This shift in supply led to a closure of LIFE programme, in which we purchase flowers
the local flower mantis, neighbourhood flower from farmers at a fair wage. Farmers who signed
shops and flower deliveries, whether through street up for our FOR LIFE programme benefited greatly
vendors or online platforms in urban areas. The even during the COVID-19 period”.
flower industry in India caters to a huge domestic - Anirudh Ranga, CEO, NESSO
market and provides support to workers and
farmers in rural areas for several months in a year. the government suspended the air services. They
incurred heavy losses to the floriculture industry.
About 95 per cent of the cut flowers are There was a complete pause in air services unless
transported by air because of their perishable it was an essential like food and drugs. Many
nature. It became the cause for concern when flower exporters mentioned that they ended up
closing the export business and started exploring
the other options to make their ends meet.
Most of the small business owners were not
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com C O V I D - 1 9 29
able to pay the air freight charges and had to exit flower shops, and flower transportation in both
themselves from the floriculture industry. Also, rural and urban areas.
we witnessed how Swiggy, Ferns N Petals along
with their online delivery services, were able to Despite bearing huge losses during COVID-19
survive the unprecedented situation presented to pandemic lockdowns, the floriculture industry
us by COVID-19. in India is trying to push hard by collaborating
with flower farmers for better prices and quality.
Let’s not forget how social media has Exporters are hoping for better transport
contributed largely in promoting all those facilities, cold storage and low air freight and
who have decided to venture on to their small financial assistance from the government for the
business. “Due to COVID-19, transportation growth of the floriculture industry.
was hindered and then there was a hike in the
air freight charges. There was a time when only The big corporate companies had huge
essentials like food and drugs were allowed to production before COVID era, which is why small
be sold that led to a complete shut of demands exporters used to get flowers easily. Unlike today
for flowers. All the business owners started the exporter enjoyed the support from farmers
taking their plunge and went online but we had because they had a competition going in between.
to wait till the time when the government lifted
the lockdown and allowed the gatherings with Way forward
limited guests” opined George Chacko, Managing
Director, Floret Aroma, Bhopal. “The flower industry in India serves a large
domestic and export market while also providing
The fact that India has a diverse culture and employment to workers and farmers in rural
Indians have enough reasons to celebrate. Has areas. However, as a silver lining in the cloud,
also brought a sign of relief during those days the perfumery industry has assisted farmers by
when the first wave of COVID-19 was ebbing. procuring flowers even during the pandemic.
There was a little relief given to the population so NESSO, for example, launched its FOR LIFE
that they could breathe in the air of the festivities. programme, in which we purchase flowers from
Many business dealers also claimed that they farmers at a fair wage. Farmers who signed up
started sending their samples to the Netherlands for our FOR LIFE programme benefited greatly
for approval but ended up losing them all due to even during the COVID-19 period”, said Anirudh
the surge in the air freight charges. Ranga, CEO, NESSO.
In an ongoing scenario, where the supply is “There was a time after the second surge
lesser than that of the demand, farmers quote the when we had limited stocks available specially
prices as per their convenience. Customers on Hydrangea and lily, thereby our company relied
the other hand are ready to pay them the prices entirely on just one wholesaler instead of dealing
they were asked for. Taking Dutch roses into with the farmers. We are happy to announce that
consideration, whose farm was entirely spoiled. we have ventured into the event decors, bridal
The farms covering larger areas were also closed showers, and birthday events and beyond. We
which later created a huge gap in the flower are also functioning with our deliveries in Delhi”,
market. Which makes us understand why there said Aashey Shah, Founder, Beyond Balloons,
has been a surge in the price of the Dutch roses. Mumbai. For many, restarting their business all
Present day farmers, on one hand, are enjoying over again is on the cards as the wedding season
by quoting the prices which is three times higher has almost arrived. Despite challenges people are
than the days before the pandemic but the one pulling together to make the sector sustainable
who exports them has to face the huge air freight and resilient.
charges even though they get a good amount
from their receivers. A surge in e-commerce and interest from new
generations recognising the benefits of nature
COVID-19 related restrictions on people's has also helped. The online push occured in just
movement, transportation, temple closures, a few months of the nationwide lockdown. Indian
wedding and other celebrations, and so on, florists can now deal with pan India as well as
have had a significant impact on the floriculture global dealers with renewed optimism.
industry. There was a lack of labour for flower
plucking and the closure of local flower mandis, Ila Kaushik
(with inputs from Dipti Barve)
[email protected]
30 S C H E M E S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
Centre's boost to Floriculture
The Floriculture industry is emerging as a profitable business in many parts of the world,
like the USA, Europe, Japan and India. The flower business is blooming in majority areas
of India like Assam, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. In India the flower industry caters to a huge
domestic market and provides livelihoods to workers and farmers in rural areas for
several months in a year. Keeping in view the challenges of the horticulture sector in
the country, the Government of India (GOI) and the state governments are implementing
many schemes and initiatives for the future of the industry.
India is bestowed with several agro-climatic as a sunrise industry and accorded it 100 per cent
zones conducive for production of sensitive export-oriented status. As per Agricultural and
and delicate floriculture products. During Processed Food Products Export Development
the decade after liberalisation floriculture Authority (APEDA), the commercial floriculture
industries took giant steps in the export has higher potential per unit area than most
arena. This era has seen a dynamic shift from of the field crops and is therefore a lucrative
sustenance production to commercial production. business. The Indian floriculture industry has
As per National Horticulture Database (Second been shifting from traditional flowers to cut
Advance Estimates) published by National flowers for export purposes.
Horticulture Board, during 2019-20 the area
under floriculture production in India was Floriculture in North-East region
305,000 hectares with a production of 2301,000
tonnes loose flowers and 762,000 tonnes cut North East Himalayas regions are endowed
flowers. Floriculture is now commercially with rich natural resources, congenial climate,
cultivated in several states with Andhra Pradesh sufficient land and cheap labour that make
(19.1 per cent), Tamil Nadu (16.6 per cent), these areas extremely conducive to floriculture.
Madhya Pradesh (11.9 per cent) having gone Therefore, the government has recognised
ahead of other producing states like Karnataka, floriculture as an extreme focus segment for
West Bengal, Mizoram, Gujarat, Orissa, development initiatives in the NE region.
Jharkhand, Haryana, Assam and Chhattisgarh. • With a vision to transform the State into
Floriculture is becoming a popular business the flower state of India, the Government
where the Government of India has identified it of Meghalaya launched the Floriculture
Development Scheme. Supported by
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S C H E M E S 31
Technology Mission Scheme, it was decided Director of Indian Council of Agricultural
in a State level Departmental meeting that Research (ICAR), Dr Narendra Pratap Singh
Floriculture Development Scheme (State commented that since the region is Christian and
Plan) will support the floriculture farmers in Hindu dominated, who traditionally use flowers
terms of infrastructure with a minimum area for religious and other activities, there is a gap
of 100 sqm as per Government of India rates. between demand and supply of flowers in the
The scheme envisions to create a demand domestic markets while the UAE, the UK and
for the ornamental crops such as orchids, Japan have good demand of Northeast orchids
Chrysanthemums, Gerberas, Carnations, and flowers.
Liliums, Strelitzia reginae, Gladiolus, Statice,
Gomphrena, Helichyrsums, Roses and Floriculture development in Karnataka
other kinds of flowering shrubs and house
plants. The scheme targets at encouraging Floriculture offers huge employment
and assisting the entrepreneurs and farmers opportunities in both production and selling
in taking up the floriculture activities. The lines, where states like Karnataka, which is the
scheme was introduced with the objective first to have a separate horticulture department,
of encouraging farmers in growing non- is developing the floriculture sector.
traditional and ornamental floral crops for • Under the National Horticulture Mission
commercial purpose; assisting the farmers
with the financial aids in cultivating the floral (NHM) which is a Centrally sponsored
crops; expanding the area for floriculture scheme to develop horticulture to the
activities under the Technology Mission maximum potential available in the states,
Scheme and to encourage entrepreneurs and 15 districts of Karnataka are covered since
promote the export of ornamental plants. 2005-2006. NHM provides holistic growth
• Horticulture Mission for North East and of the horticulture sector through an area
Himalayan States (HMNEH), a part of based regionally differentiated strategies;
Mission for Integrated Development enhance horticulture production, improve
of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme, was nutritional security and income support to
implemented for overall development of farm households and create opportunities
Horticulture in NE and Himalayan states. for employment generation for skilled and
The mission addresses the entire spectrum of unskilled persons, especially unemployed
horticulture from production to consumption youth.
through backward and forward linkages. • Introduced in 2012-2013, Comprehensive
Further, the scheme covers all NE States Horticulture Development (CHD) scheme
including Sikkim and three Himalayan states provides end to end solutions to the farmers.
of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Under this scheme, 2-3 villages in each
Uttarakhand. sub block are selected and Farmer Interest
• On the recommendation of National Research Groups (FIGS) are formed which are then
Centre for Orchid (NRCO), APEDA has provided with all latest technologies including
suggested North East states to emphasise quality seedlings, water harvesting structure,
on floriculture for a vibrant rural economy. mulching, high density planting with canopy
APEDA sanctioned Rs 7.65 crores exclusively management, training and exposure visit,
for floriculture in North east states and asked Post-Harvest Management (PHM) and
the state governments to chalk out a master market linkages to farming communities.
plan for it. • Further, the Karnataka Agro-Industries
“The region offers good scope for cultivation Corporation Limited (KAIC), with a view
of a wide variety of flowers because of its to providing domestic market for high-tech
diversities in topography, congenial agro climatic flowers, established a permanent auction
conditions coupled with fertile soil and well house for flowers in its premises in October
distributed rainfall which ensure year round 15, 1995, in association with the South
production of tropical and subtropical flowers,” India Floriculturists Association (SIFA) and
opined APEDA, General Manager Pravin Gupta. Karnataka Flower Growers’ Marketing and
Processing Co-operative Society. The basic
objective of the centre is to promote high-
32 S C H E M E S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
tech flowers, maintaining transparency in Central Government initiatives
operation and facilitating direct link between
the buyers and sellers. To promote the industry and introduce
• The Government of Karnataka initiated potential in the floriculture sector, the
several measures for the overall development government of India has started offering
of floriculture, such as, The Agricultural many subsidy schemes/initiatives ensuring
Policy of Karnataka 1995, which has identified institutional infrastructure to the farmers.
floriculture as the sunrise industry and The
Amendment of Land Reforms Act 1961. As a stepping stone, the Council for Scientific
• Moreover, Karnataka Industrial Area and Industrial Research (CSIR) Floriculture
Development Board (KIADB) and APEDA Mission has been approved for implementation
have planned to set up an International in 21 States and Union Territories of India
Flower Auction Centre on the lines of wherein available knowledge base in CSIR
Aalsmeer Flower Auction, the Netherlands. Institutes will be utilised and leveraged to help
Indian farmers and industry re-position itself to
Floriculture in Haryana gets a boost meet the import requirements
Keeping in view the emerging challenges Commenting on the mission, the then
in the field of horticulture and to provide Minister of Science and Technology Dr Harsh
nutritional security to the masses the horticulture Vardhan said, “Since 1953, CSIR has been
department, governmnet of Haryana with a developing new floral varieties and several value
vision “To make Haryana Modern Fruit and addition technologies. Through the Floriculture
Vegetable Cultivation State with a vision to lead Mission of CSIR, agro-technologies, new varieties
in domestic and export market”, the state took for and value addition technologies available with
initiatives. the CSIR institutions, efforts are being made
• New schemes of National Horticulture to take these to farmers and entrepreneurs,
and help them in multiplying their income”.
Mission, Micro-Irrigation and National “Market linkage and trade issues will be solved
Mission on Medicinal Plants have been with partnership of APEDA, state horticulture
launched. Major activities initiated under departments and TRIFED”, he added.
National Horticulture Mission are the area
expansion under fruits, flowers, spices, The CSIR Floriculture Mission is expected
creation of water resources - community tanks to create opportunities for entrepreneurship
and post-harvest management and marketing development in floriculture. The mission will
infrastructure. further focus on commercial floral crops,
• Development of the best integration model seasonal/annual crops, wild ornaments and
in India by integrating the components of cultivation of flower crops for honey bee rearing.
community tank, orchard plantation and
micro-irrigation and emulated by other In another initiative by the government,
States. Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for
• Tremendous impetus to the post-harvest Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare during his recent
management and marketing of fruits and visit to the ICAR-National Research Centre for
vegetables and got sanctioned projects to Orchids, Pakyong, Sikkim emphasised on lab-to-
the tune of Rs 67.00 crore and of Rs 170.00 land programmes to enable the state to emerge as
crores in 2006-07 and 2009-10. The facilities an organic destination for tourists and consumers.
created are collection centres, pack houses,
grading units and wholesale markets. The Floriculture industry creates scopes
• Further, the Haryana government has recently for subsidiary agro-business like export/
joined hands with the company based in the import, nursery and seed production, organic
Netherlands to start up a Centre of Excellence manure production, and agro-industries.
for Flowers in Jhajjar district. The project The Floricultural sector is experiencing rapid
has been initiated in order to promote the changes where the Government is the key player.
floriculture industry among farmers in the state Therefore, such initiatives by the government
and to create newer employment opportunities. will make sure that the industry goes through
rapid development and thus adding value to the
economic condition of the country.
Pooja Yadav
[email protected]
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S P E A K I N G W I T H 33
“The Centre is willing to sort
out the issues of import duty.”
DR M ANGAMUTHU,
Chairman, Agricultural and
Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority (APEDA)
Government of India has identified floriculture as a sunrise industry and accorded it 100 per
cent export oriented status. Owing to steady increase in demand for flowers, floriculture
has become one of the important commercial trades in Agriculture. Hence commercial
floriculture has emerged as a hi-tech activity-taking place under controlled climatic
conditions inside the greenhouse. The Indian floriculture industry has been shifting from
traditional flowers to cut flowers for export purposes. The liberalised economy has given
an impetus to the Indian entrepreneurs for establishing export oriented floriculture units
under controlled climatic conditions. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority (APEDA), is responsible for export promotion and development of
floriculture in India. Dr M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA shares his views on current status
of floriculture export in India and the way forward with AgroSpectrum. Edited excerpts;
How APEDA is contributing to purposes. However, this sector also faces
floriculture exports? the challenge of availability of forest material
as per the regulations of the Department of
• APEDA in guidance with the Ministry of Forest, Government of India.
Commerce & Agriculture has formed an
Export Promotion Forum. This forum is set The floriculture industry, being known
up to discuss the issues faced by exporters and as the sunshine industry in India, is
its Resolution. still struggling with multiple issues.
What measures should be taken to
• APEDA intends to organise Capacity Building mitigate these challenges?
Programme along with the respective
institution of the state for floriculture export. The challenges faced by the floriculture
industry are the same as that of other
• For Market Development, APEDA is horticulture sectors. The Government of India
conducting regular Buyer Seller Meet with and its organisations like NHB (National
importing countries in the EU. However, as Horticulture Board), MIDH (Mission for
per the feedback, the cost competitiveness of Integrated Development of Horticulture)
Indian floriculture products in comparison & APEDA do provide subsidies to set up
to Africa is hampering the exports. Similarly, infrastructure including greenhouses, irrigation
handling perishables like floriculture at exit management etc. It has been observed that
points need to be improved. the floriculture industry is dependent upon
• APEDA is always encouraging exports of value
added products like dried flowers for bouquet
34 S P E A K I N G W I T H AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
the demand in the international market and is • Reforms in the permit procedures of imports
very price conscious. The cost of production, of planting material for flowers.
freight and working capital makes it difficult to
sustain in comparison to Africa and other Asian • Priority clearance for flower consignment
countries due to their proximity as well as duty at major airports since flowers are a highly
advantage in the main market of the EU. The perishable category.
Ministry of Commerce/Finance is providing relief
like TMA (Transport and Marketing Assistance) • Reduction in import duties in the EU for
& RoDTEP (Remission of Duties or Taxes on level playing field to Indian floriculture in
Export Product), APEDA is providing facilitation comparison to Africa and other countries
by conducting regular buyer seller meets. having zero duty advantage with Europe.
However, the current crisis of high air freight still
hampers the growth of floriculture exports. It is • Increase in financial assistance under TMA
also seen that the Government is willing to enter of the Ministry of Commerce and increase
into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU the percentage of RoDTEP declared by the
to sort out the issues of import duty. government for mitigating the high air freight.
Recently APEDA had signed APEDA has developed a HORTINET
collaboration under Council of traceability platform for horticulture
Scientific and Industrial Research produce export. Is APEDA planning
(CSIR) Floriculture Mission with ICAR- to develop a traceability platform for
Directorate of Floriculture; Khadi floriculture export in future?
and Village Industries Commission
(KVIC), (TRIFED); Fragrance and Traceability system was introduced for
Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), horticulture produce based on the requirements
Kannauj and Ministry of Micro, Small from importing countries on pesticides maximum
and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and residue limit (MRL) and effective monitoring
Universities. How will it boost the of the same. Presently the volume of export of
growth of the floriculture industry? floriculture products is less and also in India, we
have a limited number of farmers and exporters.
APEDA’s collaboration with CSIR Once India becomes a major player non-tariff
and institutions will be beneficial to help barriers are likely to emerge. As and when the
diversification in the export basket of floriculture. situation prevails, the introduction of traceability
Presently, rose is the prominent variety for can be taken up in future.
export. However, the potential lies in the
other traditional floriculture and medicinal How can FPO contribute to
products including the dried floriculture for floriculture export?
ornamental purposes as well. The plea of the
industry is to simplify the export procedures Formation of FPOs is a welcome move in the
of dried flowers which is connected to the sector as collaboration at the farm level will help
wild collection of ornamental material. Other in aggregation of quality produce. It will also
value added products like fragrances need a help in consolidation of product from identified
proper recognition as export industries. In floriculture clusters and export facilitation can
this direction, FFDC & MSME and their state be focused on the clusters. FPOs have been
government offices have to play a major role in recognised by the Government of India for support
development of Road Map for exports of value financially and technically in order to have the
added products of the floriculture industry. export benefit distributed at the farmer level.
Further, institutions like CSIR, Botanical Research
What inputs are required for the Institute and Department of Floriculture Research,
growth of floriculture exports in India? Pune will be useful for region wise and state wise
development of FPOs in the floriculture sector.
• Allowing free import for planting material for FPOs can take advantage of financial assistance
the development of floriculture according to for purchase of refer vans, establishment of
the demand in the international market. laboratories and marketing of floriculture products
in the identified clusters.
Dipti Barve
[email protected]
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S P E A K I N G W I T H 35
"Expediting export-led
Floriculture business can
be a gamechanger"
PADMANABHAN Can you give an overview of Tamil
R R, Founder, Nadu’s floriculture market in terms of
cultivation, production and export?
Exim Group
of Companies Flowers are part of India’s cultural landscape
and they are a must factor in social and religious
The business of floriculture in Tamil gatherings. The demand for flowers peaks during
Nadu is vibrant but also faced with the festival season. The peak festival season
a multitude of challenges. Different in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, starts from
stakeholders in this industry are Diwali and goes on until Pongal/Sankranti.
united in their quest to boost Whether it is marriages, deity offerings, temple
production of popularly consumed festivals, or even final rites, irrespective of the
flowers that cater to both domestic religious background, events are not complete
as well as overseas market needs. If without flowers. Therefore, there is a sustained
properly done, floriculture would be a demand almost yearlong for flowers. Tamil Nadu
gamechanger in the economic status contributes about 25 per cent of total flower
of Tamil Nadu farmers that result in production in the country. Andhra Pradesh,
better economic opportunities for Karnataka, and Telangana are some of the other
them and most importantly prevent states in floriculture. The state has about 32,400
them from giving up their occupation hectares of land for floriculture cultivation.
and migrating to urban areas. Jasmine, Rose, Chrysanthemum, Marigold,
Padmanabhan R R, Founder, Exim Crossandra, Nerium, and Tuberose are the major
Group of Companies, in a detailed flowers cultivated in the state.
interaction with AgroSpectrum India,
reveals what makes Tamil Nadu a While Jasmine, Rose, and Marigold are
leading cultivator in floriculture and exported and sent to other states of India, the rest
at the same time ranks low as a State of the flowers are consumed within Tamil Nadu.
in exporting flowers to unexplored Chrysanthemum is a short-day plant. Cultivation
countries. Edited excerpts; starts during April-May and is harvested during
September-December while the rest of the
flowers are cultivated between March and June
and harvested between August and September.
During the year 2020-21, exports from Tamil
Nadu were about Rs 11.84 crore out of total
national exports of Rs 66.28 crore. The exports
were from major cities - Madurai, Chennai, and
Coimbatore International airports to the USA,
Singapore, Dubai, and other countries.
What are the major factors that make
TN a flourishing floriculture market ?
Tamil Nadu’s rich loamy soil and conducive
climatic conditions help the cultivation of
essential flowers. The constant availability
36 S P E A K I N G W I T H AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
of cheap labour, mostly women, and land What is your view about the
availability are the other compelling factors distribution channels for the
for an active floriculture industry in the state. floriculture business in Tamil Nadu?
Cultivation of flowers also requires smaller
landholdings compared to other agri products. The current distribution channel is highly
The landholding pattern among the flower unorganised. No organised channel exists at
cultivators ranges from 200 square meters to the moment. Flowers are unable to reach the
4,000 square meters. Reportedly, the cultivators final customer due to a lack of proper market
receive a fair price for their produce. And, as the connectivity. It is the middlemen in the mandis
time taken from seeding to harvesting flowers is who buy extensively from the farmers at
lesser compared to other agri products, farmers throwaway prices. Florists, who serve 5-star
manage to earn a daily income through flower hotels and the rich, pay exorbitant prices to buy
cultivation. flowers from these middlemen.
Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, and Quality is a major test factor in the
Tiruvannamalai are the major four districts that export of flowers. What is your opinion
cultivate flowers apart from Nilakottai, Sathya about the quality of flowers exported
Mangalam, and Dindigul areas. Vanguard from Tamil Nadu? If you think the
Exports, an APEDA registered unit, exports quality can be largely improvised, how
Madurai malli, a GI-tagged flower to the USA can the state work towards it?
and other countries. With technical inputs from
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Quality starts from the seedling. Right from
Coimbatore, on enhancing shelf life and seeding, growing, and cutting has to be done
packaging, a large market in US and Singapore scientifically. There is a need for village-level
could be served by the company. Agro Advisors at every stage of plant growth.
The State must actively work with the farmers in
What flowers are driving the business organising them, apprise cultivators of the latest
in TN? techniques like greenhouses for production,
generation of new varieties on large scale, and
Jasmine, marigold, lily, Chrysanthemum, and installation of climate control facilities near
Cassandra are some of the flowers that drive the the major airports at cities that export flowers.
market. Of this jasmine, the flower with a heady Without naming them as export incentives, these
scent, known as Madurai malli’s GI tag enables facilities can be installed at subsidised rates. Also,
protection to farmers of the region in preserving management of these facilities should be with
the identity of the product both in local and the farmer cooperatives. These facilities can also
export markets. It prevents farmers of another bring in a pay-per-use model of business.
region who cultivate similar flowers from using
the specific tag. What are the current challenges in the
floriculture business for the state and
Can you list the major countries that how can they be resolved?
import flowers from Tamil Nadu?
Could you also elaborate on the The challenges are fivefold. They are
purposes of why these countries production-related, climate-related, storage
import specific flowers from TN ? and packing, marketing, and transportation-
related challenges, and finally export-related
USA, Singapore, Malaysia, the Middle East challenges. Real estate development is also the
including Dubai, and European countries import largest challenge in this sector. Lured by high
most flowers. Flowers exported to these countries prices, farmers sell away their land. Quality
satisfy the needs of the large Indian diaspora in seeds, affordable fertilisers and manures also
those countries. Apart from the social functions of pose challenges. Farmers lack knowledge about
Indians, flowers are offered extensively in Hindu high yield cultivars, soil testing, and the proper
temples abroad. A large number of garlands are application of herbicides and fertilisers. Another
exported during the famous Thaipoosam festival concern is the lack of skilled workers who require
celebrated in Malaysia and Singapore, where knowledge on plant protection, harvesting, and
significant Tamil populations reside. post-harvesting techniques.
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S P E A K I N G W I T H 37
Climate is another major challenge. The bouquets are in demand in the US, Europe,
cultivation of flowers is highly temperature- Singapore, and in other countries. The State has
sensitive. High or low temperatures and humidity not forayed this export segment so far. Although
affect the plant and reduce the yield and the the State caters to the domestic market, higher
losses could be severe if climate fluctuations realisations are possible in exporting flowers for
occur during the blooming stage. Pests develop bouquets that are required in hotels and offices.
resistance to pesticides because of climate The domestic market can also be tapped for the
change, which causes infection of the foliage. distribution of flowers for bouquets in the B2C
sector that is witnessing increased demand in
The third challenge is related to storage and recent times.
packing. Modern flowers require facilities for cold
storage, while the indigenous varieties require Farming communities, merchant exporters,
no such facility. To achieve economies of scale, universities must work in unison and the
small farmers need to store the produce, sort, government must enable this alliance. If properly
and market. More such facilities are the need of coordinated, floriculture will usher major
the hour. economic and social change in the status of
farmers particularly women.
The next is marketing and transportation.
Since the state lacks an organised channel for What kind of support is given to the
marketing the produce, farmers are at the mercy cultivators from the State Government
of the middlemen. Added to these, the lack of and how are Universities assisting in
accessible roads and other infrastructure to the cultivation of the flowers?
market is another problem.
There are 64 schemes under the National
Finally, export marketing, which requires Horticulture Mission of the Government of
a tactical approach is an immense challenge to India that are executed by the state government
floriculturists of Tamil Nadu. Starting from low under TANHODA. Of the 64 schemes, 27 are
awareness about value-added products to no floriculture related. Assistance ranges from
direct flights to international markets, lack of setting up nursery both under public and private,
adequate space, high freight rates in the recent setting-up tissue culture (T/C) plants, setting up
COVID times are other challenges in the go-to- greenhouse structures, shade net house, Centre
market strategy. Recently, I was in conversation of Excellence, procurement of power tillers, cold
with a Satya Mangalam-based exporter (Ashwin), chain system, procurement of plant material
who said he uses Cochin, Mumbai, Coimbatore, for roses and lilies are available. In Tamil Nadu,
and New Delhi airports to export as direct flights more than 1,000 projects have been executed.
are available to select destinations only from
these airports. He said he was not able to tap new Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)
overseas markets due to the lack of direct flights has been actively engaging in projects that enable
to those desired countries. good shelf life and packing of the flowers. TNAU
has an active portal with Apps on expert systems
According to me, there is an urgent need and information on weather, crop doctor,
for floriculture-based Farmer Producer crop protection, post-harvest technology, and
Organisations (FPO) in villages. Farmers information related to nutrient deficiency. TNAU
must demand the setting up of such FPOs. My actively works on the ground linking farmers
suggestion is that farmers could also adopt a with merchants not only from Tamil Nadu but
model similar to the one deployed at Anand, also from other states like Kerala. An exclusive
Gujarat. Agricultural Universities in the region Floriculture Research station of TNAU functions
could also work alongside farmers in introducing in Thovalai, Kanyakumari district.
newer varieties and packing methods to enhance
the shelf life of the flowers. Can you comment about the
opportunities and also suggest how
Export marketing is a different ball game more opportunities can be created for
altogether. Despite being the No 2 in the the population in export-led districts?
world in flower cultivation, the State has a low
rank (maybe 15th) in exporting flowers to the Most of the farmers are marginal and small
international markets. Colombia, a much smaller farmers. Most farmers take to floriculture as the
country ranks 4th in the export of flowers. Flower
38 S P E A K I N G W I T H AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
extent of land required is lesser compared to them to poverty, debts, and poor agricultural
other agri products. The landholding is mostly practices. A report by MS Swaminathan Research
around 200 square meters. In floriculture, Foundation (MSSRF) estimates an average
women employees significantly contribute to income loss of Rs 2 lakh per ha of loose flowers
the industry. Empowering women in this sector due to the pandemic.
empowers their entire family and also supports
their children’s education. What is the future business outlook
for the next few years and the revenue
Floriculture presents a lot of opportunities projection from the floriculture
year-round in India and abroad. But we are not industry of Tamil Nadu?
in the value-added format like the bouquets,
garlands, and essential oils made from flowers. In the Indian floriculture industry, which is
As a first move, farmers have to be organised valued at Rs 37,000 crore, Tamil Nadu’s share is
into collectives to take advantage of scale. about Rs 9,000 crore. The industry is currently
Although government schemes are available, growing at about 8 to 9 per cent per annum. The
knowledge regarding the schemes has not growth is witnessed due to change in buying
reached the cultivators. The State must seek the habits of consumers, e-commerce as a selling
help of foreign experts from countries like the option, Direct to Consumer (D2C) strategy
Netherlands (Netherland is the No 1 exporter adopted by merchants and farmer cooperatives,
of bouquets and other floriculture export-based increasing levels of income, saying thanks
products). The government and agri authorities with flowers, and influence of western culture
can exploit Indian missions abroad and non- like Valentine’s Day among the young Indian
resident Indians to boost the business. Also, population. One can easily expect 10x growth in
seed capital at the initial stages and working this segment provided the players in the value
capital has to be made more affordable by the chain and stakeholders like the government
government. Periodic skilling and training on organisations play their cards well.
seed selection, rearing of plants, pre-harvest, and
post-harvest technologies have to be provided by Pollution is a major issue in the manufacture
the state agri department from time to time. of active ingredients from Marigold. This has to
be addressed. Active ingredients fetch a very good
In short, combined efforts of the government, price for the farmer. Similarly, flower export to
agricultural universities, and NGOs will countries like Australia is nil thanks to the presence
enable the farmers to reap benefits from their of unacceptable pesticide levels in the produce. We
produce. If properly done, floriculture would have come to a stage where there is no agriculture
be a gamechanger in the economic status of without pesticides. Therefore, the acceptable levels
these farmers that result in better economic to be adhered to by the cultivators. The foreign
opportunities for them and most importantly governments have to be convinced of our practices
prevent them from giving up their occupation through all our means including economic,
and migrating to urban areas. diplomatic, and soft power. When Indonesia can
supply Jasmine to Australia, why not India?
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed
several market conditions. How did FPOs, public-private partnerships are the
the pandemic affect the floriculture future. An excellent example has been set by
market of Tamil Nadu? Did it create Tanflora, India’s first project in the Agri Export
new avenues to trade floriculture Zone scheme. Tanflora is the alliance for the
produce on online platforms? export of cut flowers between Tamil Nadu
Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO)
The impact of COVID has been a double and CCL Flowers Pvt Ltd, Bangalore. Tanflora
whammy for farmers, more particularly small has to its credit the development and patent
farmers. The absence of commercial activity rights to Taj Mahal rose. Farmers and Tanflora
during the pandemic meant that produce was work on a 75:25 partnership. The Government of
allowed to wither in the field. This applies to Tamil Nadu must conceive more such initiatives
Jasmine and Marigold that are sent to processing to make Tamil Nadu flourish in the floriculture
units for their chemical constituents. Loss of jobs business of the future.
meant income loss for the farmers that pushed
Anusha Ashwin
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com E V E N T R E P O RT 39
Ensuring accessibility of
nutritious food for all
India has emerged as the largest producer of and future human needs.”
milk, spices, cotton and pulses with infusion
of new technologies, innovative institutional Achieving sustainability goals
engineering and right incentives. With
India’s transformation, the agriculture sector Dr Ashok Dalwai, CEO of the National Rain
stands at the crossroads; where sustainable Fed Area Authority, in his opening remarks
agriculture offers a much-needed alternative to explained the trends, opportunities, and
conventional input-intensive agriculture. challenges to overcome and achieve sustainability
goals. He said: "We need sustainable technologies
World Food Trust (WFP) has organised a to increase the yield for the growing population.”
day-long seminar on ‘Sustainable Agriculture
and India towards Total Food Security' in New He added, “With the help of science, we can
Delhi on October 31, 2021. The seminar saw develop varieties that give us food and nutrition.
active participation from the representatives from These fortified varieties not just contain the basic
Central and state governments, academicians, carbohydrates but contain more iron and all
and representatives from the NGOs, foreign other kinds of nutrients that are required."
embassies and the private sector; which included
senior functionaries from organisations like Explaining nutrition security for the people,
Food Safety and Standards Organisation of India income security for the farmers, and sustainability
(FSSAI), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), for the ecology, he said, "Food security and
National Water Mission (NMG), National Mission nutritional security have to be defined in terms
for Clean Ganga (NMCG), National Rain Fed of availability, accessibility, and affordability.
Area Authority, Meghalaya Basin Development Produce more to make it more affordable. The
Authority (MBDA), Assam Rural Infrastructure food system has to connect to the demand center
and Agricultural Services (ARIAS), National (supply chain), and there is a need to create a
Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship competitive marketing environment."
and Management (NIFTEM), India Water
Foundation, India China and America Institute, Water efficiency
Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, among others.
G Ashok Kumar, Additional Secretary with
Eminent speakers joined the discussions and the Government of India and Mission Director,
shared their expert knowledge with the audience National Water Mission, highlighted the
for a result-oriented approach to lead India importance of water in agriculture and elaborated
towards achieving Sustainable Development the meaning of Sahi Fasal. He elaborated, “Sahi
Goals (SDGs) and total food security before the Fasal campaign was launched to nudge farmers
dawn of the year 2030. in the water-stressed areas to grow crops that are
not water-intensive, but use water efficiently; for a
The crux of the day-long seminar was, healthy, nutritious and economically remunerative
“Agriculture is a cause and a solution to crop which is also environmentally friendly.”
environmental problems such as biodiversity
loss and climate change. However, sustainable “We are creating awareness among farmers
agriculture has the potential to mitigate climate on appropriate crops, micro-irrigation, soil
change and strengthen resilience to the impacts moisture conservation, and crop diversification,
of climate change. Therefore, the vision for such as weaning them away from water-intensive
sustainable agriculture is significant for the world crops like paddy and sugarcane to crops like corn
in which food is nutritious and accessible to and maize that require less water. Further, on
everyone and natural resources are preserved to the other side assisting policymakers in framing
maintain ecosystem functions to support current policies that make effective pricing of inputs
(water and electricity); improve procurement
and market for these alternate crops; which
40 E V E N T R E P O RT AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
eventually leads to an increase in farmers' "Food and nutritional security
income," he added. have to be defined in terms of
availability, accessibility, and
Sampath Kumar, CEO, Meghalaya Basin affordability. Produce more
Development Authority (MBDA), presented a to make it more affordable.
case study to explain the authority's significant The food system has to
activities and their work done so far to conserve connect to the demand centre
water and increase sustainability in agriculture. (supply chain), and there is a
According to him, MBDA pays special attention to need to create a competitive
water conservation and its optimum management. marketing environment."
Food security and nutrition - Dr Ashok Dalwai,
CEO, National Rain Fed Area Authority
Vivek Arora, principal lead, Food Fortification
Resource Centre (FFRC) at Food Safety and “We are creating awareness
Standards Organisation of India (FSSAI), among farmers on appropriate
enlightened the audience with FSSAI's Eat Right crops, micro-irrigation, soil
Initiative, its key functions and elaborated on moisture conservation, and
the importance of Eat Safe, Eat Healthy, and Eat crop diversification, such as
Sustainable. Arora added, "We should also look weaning them away from
at adopting big data and analytics which will not water-intensive crops like
only mitigate the risk of climate change to the paddy and sugarcane to
farmers but would also ensure the modern and crops like corn and maize that
efficient methods of production based on the require less water. Further, on
evaluation of the changing consumer demands. the other side assisting policymakers in framing
Blockchain technology is one such technique that policies that make effective pricing of inputs
can be used for traceability and transparency (water and electricity); improve procurement
along the food chain.” Furthermore, Arora and market for these alternate crops; which
demanded a collaborative approach between eventually leads to an increase in farmers'
the stakeholders, including the government, income."
producers, international bodies, and consumers,
to improve food security, safety, and nutrition. - G Ashok Kumar,
Mission Director, National Water Mission
Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director General,
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), in their livelihood comes from climate change.
made a brief presentation on water resources Moreover, the current agriculture system is
management in the Ganges. According to him, continuously increasing their cost of cultivation."
the future of sustainable agriculture or food
security is not possible without water. Highlighting the issue of soil depletion Vijay
Kumar said, "We are losing 5 billion tonnes of soil
Climate-smart approach every year. India is losing 23 per cent of the topsoil,
and it is an emergency situation. We need to opt
In a virtual presentation, T Vijay Kumar, for effective agriculture practices for building soil
Executive Vice Chairman of Rythu Sadhikara than losing soil to reduce water stress."
Samstha (Andhra Government’s Corporation
for Farmer’s Empowerment) elaborated on S M Husain, Former Chairman, Central Water
three main issues - farmers' livelihoods, human Mission, emphasised the optimum management
health, and planetary health lessons. He stated, of water resources in his presentation. Husain
"The Government of Andhra Pradesh had a rued at the fact that India has gone down on
vision that all farmers gradually transition Food Security Index and supported the Call for
from conventional agriculture to sustainable or Action by the World Food Trust to initiate multi-
climate-resilient agriculture or natural farming. pronged action on the ground by all stakeholders,
We have multiple emergencies; on one side, we in a combined manner, as the need of the hour.
have farmers' distress which is made worse by
climate change. Farmers are the frontline soldiers Ashish Kumar Bhutani, state project director,
facing the climate change, and the highest risk Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural
Services (ARIAS) mentioned that the state
of Assam had strengthened its cluster-based
production approaches. “There are many
institutional reforms brought at the admin level
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com E V E N T R E P O RT 41
at the agricultural department. Assam is an “There are many institutional
agricultural state. It has brought a more market- reforms brought at the
oriented production perspective to its production admin level at the agricultural
value chains. We have identified and prioritised department. Assam is
various value chains in the field of agriculture an agricultural state, and
and horticulture," he added. it has brought a more
market-oriented production
Dr Chindi Vasudevappa, Vice Chancellor, perspective to its production
National Institute of Food Technology value chains. We have
Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), identified and prioritised
explained about the role of NIFTEM in preparing various value chains in the field of agriculture and
the much-needed workforce. He said, "NIFTEM horticulture."
is the brainchild of the Ministry of Food
Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government - Ashish Kumar Bhutani,
of India that caters to the needs of various State Project Director, Assam Rural
stakeholders such as entrepreneurs, food Infrastructure and Agricultural Services
processing industry, exporters, policymakers,
government, and existing institutions. We are "NIFTEM is the brainchild of
working for the industry and are trained to build MoFPI, Government of India
in capacity, critical manpower that can address that caters to the needs of
the needs of the industry, especially in food various stakeholders such
processing. Moreover, our curriculum is designed as entrepreneurs, food
in a way that addresses the needs of the post- processing industry, exporters,
harvest and food processing industry." policymakers, government,
and existing institutions. We
The full-day conference also included are working for the industry
presentations of Suneeti Toteja, Scientist-E, and are trained to build in
Standardisation Head, Food and Agriculture at capacity, critical manpower that can address
the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), where she the needs of the industry, especially in food
briefed on BIS and the major activities of the processing. Moreover, our curriculum is designed
standards. in a way that addresses the needs of the post-
harvest and food processing industry."
Alok Adholeya, former Programme Director,
Sustainable Agriculture at The Energy and - Dr Chindi Vasudevappa,
Resources Institute (TERI) and presently the Vice Chancellor, National Institute of Food
visiting Professor at Indian Council for Research Technology Entrepreneurship and Management
on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)
enlightened the audience on seed coating of thoughts on enhancing the result-oriented
microbes to reduce post-harvest losses, enhanced frontiers, community engagement, and
productivity, and carbon sequestration potential. corporate-funded programmes and expressed his
solidarity and full commitment towards working
Arvind Kumar, Governor, World Water jointly with the World Food Trust to carry forth
Council, and Founder President – India Water the agenda further.
Foundation delivered a virtual presentation on
enabling business in agriculture via ecosystem- The seminar served as a good networking
based adaptation for sustainable food security. platform for the industry stakeholders,
identifying solutions and issuing a call for action
In addition, the seminar also included at all agriculture and food system levels. In the
presentations from a few foreign missions in concluding remarks, Aziz Haider, Head Media
India. These included a presentation by Dalci de Communications at the World Food Trust said,
Jesus Bagolin, Agriculture Attache, Ministry of “We, at the World Food Trust, intend to make
Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply at the a report of the points discussed and solutions
Embassy of Brazil in New Delhi and Yaroslav proposed and brought forth, at the earliest
Kolensnik, Secretary at the Embassy of the possible. The report will be handed over to each
Republic of Belarus in New Delhi. and every department and organisation in the
country, who have stakes in policy framing or
Amlan Bhushan, Director, Global Outreach, execution of the policies at the ground level.”
India China & America Institute delivered his
Pooja Yadav
[email protected]
42 T E C H N O L O G Y N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
Scientists, agriculturists call for BRL1 field
trials in Karnataka
Eminent scientists and agriculture experts from
Karnataka have demanded to allow Biosafety adversely impacting agricultural productivity.
Regulatory Level 1 (BRL 1) field trials of Bt Policymakers will have to enable the development
Cotton and maize in Karnataka. After the success and evaluation of technologies in a reliable and
of Bt Cotton in India, since 2002, no other crop time-bound manner. Adoption of new innovative
(enhanced through biotechnology) has been methods/ practices by the farming community will
released in India. While farmers have been not only increase the food production which feeds
demanding to get hold of such technologies to the growing population but also make agriculture
improve crop productivity and control insect more sustainable and profitable to the farmers.
attacks, nothing has been approved by the
government so far. The experts opined that the
government and policymakers must educate the
general public on the scientific advances that are
being made globally to address the serious issues
ICAR-NIPB, ICRISAT ink MoU to boost plant
biotech research
The ICAR-National Institute for Plant ICAR-NIPB held recently in New Delhi. This
Biotechnology (NIPB) and ICRISAT recently partnership will empower and enable both the
signed a Memorandum of Understanding institutes to explore new opportunities and
(MoU) to advance their research efforts conduct advanced research in the interest of
in the area of agriculture development smallholder farmers across the country and
with a focus on molecular biology, genetic also help in building the capacities of our next-
engineering and capacity building. Dr Rajeev generation scientists from the national system.
K Varshney, Research Programme Director,
Accelerated Crop Improvement, ICRISAT,
and Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany, Director, ICAR-
NIPB, shared the signed MoU during the
Research Advisory Committee Meeting of
Raman Spectroscopy-based method to
enable early detection of pathogens in plants
Researchers from the Disruptive & Sustainable early diagnosis of bacterial infections in crop
Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) plants, which can be critical for the progress of plant
Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) of disease management and agricultural productivity.
Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and The breakthrough by SMART and TLL researchers
Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise offers a faster and more accurate method to detect
in Singapore and their local collaborators from bacterial infection in crop plants at an earlier
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL), have stage, as compared to existing techniques. The
developed a rapid Raman spectroscopy-based team explained their research in a paper titled
method for the detection and quantification
of early bacterial infection in crops. The ‘Rapid detection and quantification of plant
Raman spectral biomarkers and diagnostic innate immunity response using Raman
algorithm enable the non-invasive and spectroscopy’ published in the journal
Frontiers in Plant Science.
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com T E C H N O L O G Y N E W S 43
Renaissance BioScience's RNA-based tech
effective against Colorado potato beetle
Renaissance BioScience Corp's RNA-based Renaissance novel proprietary RNA production
biopesticide technology conducted on Colorado and oral delivery platform technology is that it’s
potato beetle (CPB) larvae resulted in 98.3 per cent possible to include multiple different gene targets
mortality and greatly reduced the amount of plant in each cell of the delivery system.
damage caused by the beetle. The Colorado potato
beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is one of the
most economically devastating pests facing potato
crops in North America and Mexico, Europe,
Russia and Eastern Europe, and in Asia, including
in western and northeastern China. The proof-of-
concept test, conducted by a leading international
agriculture consultancy with expertise in pesticide
evaluation, applied Renaissance’s proprietary
yeast-based RNA interference technology that
is designed to precisely target and turn off a
specific CPB gene. This, in turn, resulted in high
CPB mortality and protected the potato plant. A
key characteristic and industrial benefit of the
ESDS launches digital agro platform Famrut
ESDS Software Solution, a leading managed cloud service and end-to-end multi-cloud requirements
provider, has launched its digital platform 'Famrut' at its Nashik Data Center. The key objective of
Famrut is to assist the farmers in extracting maximum yield and thereby revenue from their piece of
land by connecting them with relevant stakeholders in the agricultural ecosystem. Through Famrut,
the company aims to deliver farming solutions to farmers across the nation. ESDS's Famrut will
enable farmers to connect with agronomists of their choice, accessibility to banking and insurance
products, markets, and crop and cattle management, logistics and solutions help with farming.
J.R. Simplot, Plant Sciences collaborate
on Gene Editing of Strawberries
The J.R. Simplot Company announced that it has technology and PSI’s germplasm and leadership.
entered a strategic alliance with Plant Sciences The strawberry market is prime for innovation.
Inc. (PSI), a Watsonville, CA-based plant breeding Each year, approximately 35 per cent of fresh
company, to drive new breeding techniques for
strawberries, including gene editing. Simplot and strawberries are discarded by consumers
PSI have been collaborating since 2011 on multiple because of waste from poor storage or
new breeding technologies and expect to short shelf life. Using new breeding
launch the first commercially available, gene techniques like CRISPR-Cas9
edited strawberry in the coming years. The genome editing tools in strawberry
partnership provides both companies with development is anticipated to
the increased ability to bring improve shelf life and
improved strawberries to significantly reduce such
market with Simplot’s waste.
44 A C A D E M I A N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
ICAR, ICFA ICAR-CIRCOT, Devdhar
Chemicals ink MoU for
to bolster nano-sulphur application
agri-research The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton
Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai, has signed a Memorandum
& farmers’ of Understanding (MoU) with Devdhar Chemicals, Pune
(Incubatee) for 'Evaluation of ICAR-CIRCOT Nano-Sulphur
outreach as Fertiliser and Pesticide.' Dr Sujata Saxena, Director, ICAR-
CIRCOT, Mumbai and Ritika Devdhar, Joint MD, Devdhar
A Memorandum of Chemicals, Pune signed the MoU on the behalf of their
Understanding (MoU) was respective organisations. ICAR-CIRCOT mentioned that the
recently signed between Nano-Sulphur application will improve crop growth, enhance
Indian Council of Agricultural absorption of major plant nutrients, reduce fertiliser losses
Research (ICAR) and the and result in increased crop yield. As per the MoU, the ICAR-
Indian Chamber of Food and CIRCOT will supply the Nano-Sulphur and Devdhar Chemicals
Agriculture (ICFA), New Delhi. will evaluate its efficiency in the different field crops (onion,
Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, groundnut, garlic and sunflower) and analyse its effects on the
Secretary, Department of post-harvest quality parameters of the various crops.
Agricultural Research and
Education (DARE) & Director PAU scientist bags ISAE
General, ICAR and Dr MJ Commendation Award 2020
Khan, Chairman, ICFA signed
the MoU on the behalf of Dr Satish Kumar Gupta, Professor and Training and Placement
their respective organisations. Officer of College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology,
The collaboration will help Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has recently been awarded
to strengthen agricultural Commendation Medal Award (2020) by the Indian Society
research, innovations of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE), New Delhi. The award was
and farmers’ outreach for conferred to him during 55th Annual Convention of
sustainable agricultural ISAE held on November 23- 25, 2021 in Patna. Dr
development. In his address, Gupta has also been awarded the Best Teacher
Dr Mohapatra outlined the Award by the Indian Society for Technical
unparalleled contributions of Education in 2017 and an appreciation Certificate
the stakeholders that have led by Deputy Director General (Agricultural
the country to succeed in the Extension), ICAR and Vice-Chancellor, PAU in
agricultural sector. He urged for recognition of his services. During his tenure
making the efforts to scale out as Joint Secretary cum Treasurer, the Punjab
the technologies to the farmers Chapter of ISAE has been awarded the best
and develop new linkages Chapter Award twice.
through ICFA with the industry
for demand-driven research.
He also stressed convergence
between and amongst the
similar activities of ICAR and
ICFA to fortify the impacts of
the technologies.
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com A C A D E M I A N E W S 45
ICAR-NRC on Meat signs ICAR-NAARM
MoU for tech licensing
with MR Labs signs MoU
Dr Bhupendra Nath Tripathi, Deputy Director General with NCDEX
(Animal Science), ICAR and Dr Amrish Kumar Tyagi,
ADG (Animal Nutrition & Physiology), ICAR released the for developing
'Immunochromatography-based Pork Detection Kit (IPDK)'
developed by the ICAR-National Research Centre of Meat, research
Hyderabad. Dr S B Barbuddhe, Director, ICAR-NRC on
Meat, Hyderabad signed the Memorandum of Understanding programmes
(MoU) with the MR Labs, Hyderabad for the Licensing of
the Technical Know-how for the kit during the occasion. The The ICAR-National Academy
kit is 100 per cent field-deployable starting from the sample of Agricultural Research
extraction till the interpretation of the results. Having the Management, Hyderabad
capability of completing the test within 15 minutes, the kit is signed a Memorandum of
highly sensitive (0.5 per cent w/w), species-specific and does Understanding (MoU) with
not require any specialised laboratory set-up, refrigerated the NCDEX Institute of
storage or skilled manpower. Commodity Markets and
Research (NICR), Mumbai. Dr
ICAR-DRMR, Star Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-
Agriseeds ties up for NAARM, Hyderabad and Aleen
licensing of the Rapeseed- Mukherjee, COO, NICR signed
Mustard Hybrid the MoU on the behalf of their
respective organisations. The
The ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research main objective of the MoU is
to enable the development of
(DRMR), Bharatpur, Rajasthan signed a Memorandum of programmes for cooperation in
the areas of faculty support for
Understanding (MoU) with Star Agriseeds, Sri-Ganganagar, training programmes conducted
by both the organisations;
Rajasthan for the non-exclusive licensing of the Rapeseed- Research and consultancy;
Exchange of information and
Mustard Hybrid NRCHB506. Dr PK Rai, Director, ICAR- expertise; Training of trainers
based on reciprocity and mutual
DRMR, Bharatpur and Saurabh Pandey, Representative, Star benefits. Dr G Venkateshwarlu,
Joint Director, ICAR-NAARM
Agriseeds signed the MoU on the behalf of their respective stated that the MoU provides
an overarching framework for
organisations. Dr Rai emphasised that the commercialization collaboration in the various
areas and the role of NCDEX in
of high-yielding new varieties will help to bring more areas commodity markets.
under improved varieties for enhancing the production and
productivity of oilseeds in the country, particularly
the rapeseed-mustard variety.
Dr Rai outlined the
development of the
Ready-to-License and
other high-yielding
varieties by the
Directorate. He also
stated the registration
of some trait-specific
germplasm, which can
also be shared through the
MoU.
46 A G R I I N P U T S N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
Verdesian partners with Bayer’s Better
Life Farming initiative in India
Verdesian Life Sciences, a leader in nutrient use Yara Fertilisers for soil and nutrient management;
efficiency technologies for agricultural use, has DeHaat, AgriBasaar and Big Basket as off-takers;
joined Bayer’s Better Life Farming (BLF) initiative and Tata Trusts for improving rural livelihoods
in India to provide sustainable agricultural and promoting self-reliant agri-entrepreneurship.
products like AVAIL Phosphorus Fertiliser Bayer has mentioned that through such strategic
Enhancer, SEED100 and Nursery+ to smallholder partnerships across the agri-value chain, we
farmers in India. The products will be offered aim to create a sustainable ecosystem where
across more than 750 Better Life Farming Centers traditional and digital marketplaces co-exist
supporting over 400,000 smallholder farmers with the common aim of providing farmers with
throughout the region. In India, the BLF alliance greater choice.
works with additional local partners including:
Agastya Agro in Mahindra sells
agreement with US-
based Primary BioAg 45,420 tractors in
Innovations
India in Oct 2021
Hyderabad-based Agastya Agro has entered into
an agreement with US-based Primary BioAg Mahindra & Mahindra's Farm Equipment
Innovations (PBI). PBI is a BIOAG solutions Sector (FES), part of the Mahindra Group,
company with a unique integration of various announced its tractor sales numbers for
technology platforms and a diverse product October 2021. The domestic sales in October
portfolio including bio fertilisers, bio stimulants 2021 were at 45,420 units, as against 45,588
and biopesticides. CHV Srinivas, Director of units during October 2020. Total tractor
Agastya Agro and Roger Tripathi, Founder sales (Domestic + Exports) during October
Chairman and CEO, Primary BioAg Innovations, 2021 were at 47,017 units, as against 46,558
USA signed the agreement on their company's units for the same period last year. Exports
behalf. In future, PBI intends to transfer the for the month stood at 1597 units. The
technology to India for Agastya and other Indian company mentioned that, in the exports
partner facilities in Telangana. The agreement is market, it has sold 1597 tractors with a
an exclusive one for Agastya in the southern states growth of 65 per cent over last year. With a
of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and rapid COVID vaccination drive exceeding
Karnataka to begin with and subsequently being 100 crore doses in the country, the economy
expanded to other states. has started gaining momentum, while rural
economic activity continues to be resilient.
The monsoon, though normal at cumulative
level, has been back-ended with heavy
rainfall in September and October.
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com A G R I I N P U T S N E W S 47
Sonalika Tractors registers 17,130 overall
tractor sales in Oct 21
Sonalika Tractors has registered its highest- and markets or optimising services - having the
ever year to date (YTD) figures of 85,068 overall
tractor sales in FY’22, recording a growth of 6.56 right mind-set at the right place at the right time
per cent over 79,829 units sold in the same period
last year. Sonalika has registered overall tractor has propelled the company to offer technologically
sales of 17,130 tractors on October 21, registering
5.5 per cent growth to surpass industry growth. advanced farming solutions to its customers.
Sonalika has adopted a multi-pronged approach
to boost farm mechanisation and take Sonalika’s advanced technology powered
farmers towards farm prosperity
in an affordable way. Be it premium tractors such as Tiger and Sikander
product innovation, offering
customised state-specific DLX along with region-specific tractors such as
tractors, newer categories
Chhatrapati (for Maharashtra) and Mahabali (for
Telangana) have lately been joined
by the Maharaja, fully-
customised tractors
especially designed
for farmers in
Rajasthan.
Best Agrolife Dhanuka Agritech
ranks 15 among
top 20 agrochem unveils Onekill in
firms in India
Rajasthan
Delhi-headquartered Best Agrolife has been
ranked 15th among the top 20 agrochemical Gurugram-based Dhanuka
companies in India. The ranking was released by Agritech has launched
Onekill, a new
AgroPages, an online media platform Japanese technology
for the agrochemical industry for weed control,
devoted exclusively to the across four districts
global agricultural business. in Rajasthan – Sikar, Jhalawar, Kota
Best Agrolife registered and Baran. Subodh Kumar Gupta, Chief
a 22 per cent growth in Marketing Manager, Dhanuka Agritech,
revenue, FY 2020-21 launched Onekill and gave a technical
proved to be a significant year session on Onekill among trade partners.
for the company. The company The company mentioned that for the first
time, Indian onion growers will experience
took progressive steps towards Onekill, a 9(3) molecule that is a complete
upgrading the portfolio from old solution for weed-free onion crops. Onekill
generics to patented combinations and recently is a post emergence, systemic herbicide
off-patented molecules. Best Agrolife is preparing that controls narrow leaf weeds as well as
to increase its formulation plant capacity to 50,000 broadleaf weeds. Once it is absorbed by
MTPA, which will be significantly higher than its the onion crop's foliage and root system, it
present capacity. Considering its international provides longer residual control to most of
footprints, the company is actively exploring the weeds. Moreover, it lasts for one to two
various markets such as Africa, Asia, South East hours and has effective rain fastness. Onekill
Asia and the Asia Pacific, European Union (EU) has a dual mode of action and has excellent
and the US and plans to own subsidiary companies translocation activity.
in Africa, EU, and the US markets.
48 S U P P LY C H A I N N E W S AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
Onato raises $2.2M from Omnivore,
Vertex Ventures
Onato, a data driven B2B platform for fresh entrepreneurs Vedant Katiyar and Ashish
produce, announced a seed financing Jindal. Onato stated that more than 60
of $2.2 million. This round was per cent of the population of India
led by Vertex Ventures Southeast is dependent on agriculture and yet
Asia & India with participation tech penetration in the agri-supply
from Omnivore. Onato is building chain is quite low. Decision making
a technology platform for India’s is mostly intuition driven which leads
$100+ billion fruits and vegetables to a lot of volatility in prices and wastage.
(F&V) industry. The startup plans to use this
funding for talent acquisition and scaling We believe bringing in transparency in price
up its operations. Based out of Bangalore, discovery and fulfilment through technology
Onato was founded in February 2021 by will play a crucial role in streamlining the
supply chains and decision making.
FCI, Railways transport Scindia releases
180 LMT food grains Krishi UDAN 2.0
under PMGKAY
Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya
Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & M Scindia has released Krishi UDAN 2.0, which
Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public lays out the vision of improving value realisation
Distribution and Textiles, on November 15 virtually through better integration and optimisation
inaugurated the office building of Food Corporation of agri-harvesting and air transportation and
of India (FCI’s), Divisional Office at Hubballi in contributing to agri-value chain sustainability
Karnataka and Food Security Museum at Thanjavur, and resilience under different and dynamic
Tamil Nadu. Goyal stated that FCI and Indian conditions. The scheme proposes to facilitate and
Railways have transported record food grains in every incentivise the movement of agri-produce by air
nook and corner of the country and we have issued transportation. The enhanced version of the Krishi
180.83 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of food grains UDAN scheme was formulated with support from
under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company
(PMGKAY). To augment the infrastructure required Limited (AAICLAS) - a 100 per cent subsidiary of
for ensuring Food Security, the government’s vision the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Invest
to create adequate storage for food grains has India, India’s national Investment Promotion
resulted in the creation of scientific godowns and & Facilitation Agency, under the Ministry of
modern storage silos. It is an ongoing process for Commerce and Industry. It offers a full waiver of
which the agencies like FCI and Central Warehousing Landing, Parking, TNLC and RNFC charges for
Corporation (CWC) along with the help of the state Indian freighters and P2C at selected Airports of
government's storage agencies have been able to the Airport Authority of India primarily, focusing
create 69 LMT extra storage by effectively utilising on NER, hilly and tribal regions.
the covered storage space. Besides, the government
is also creating modern storage silos in the hub and
spoke model for 108 LMT across the country.
AGROSPECTRUM |DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com S U P P LY C H A I N N E W S 49
Snowman Arya.ag introduces
Logistics posts BNPL service
Rs 70 Cr revenue for commodity
in Q2 FY 20-21 purchase
Snowman Logistics has registered a revenue of Arya.ag, India’s largest integrated agri service
Rs 70 crore against Rs 57 crore in Q2 FY 20-21. platform, has launched BNPL (Buy Now Pay
EBITDA increased by 25 per cent to Rs 19 crore Later). The service is relevant to every buyer who
from Rs 15 crore in the corresponding quarter of buys roughly 150-200 tonnes of agri produce
the previous year. PBT increased to Rs 2.01 crore (grains/oilseeds/pulses traded annually) and will
from Rs (1.73) crore in the corresponding quarter help mitigate the age-old challenges of finance in
of the previous year and PAT increased to Rs the commodity buying space. Buyers on the Arya.
0.47 crore in the current quarter from Rs (1.73) ag platform can currently receive a credit of up to
crore in the same period in the previous year. The Rs 25 lakh with a 0 per cent interest rate for 14
company mentioned that its expansions in Siliguri days. The amount will shortly go up to Rs 2 crore.
and Mumbai were commissioned. It also noted To avail of the BNPL, buyers need to upload the
that its SnowLink Technology platform (transport basic KYC and financial details. Once on board,
aggregation model) has also picked up well. The the buyers can avail credit in a matter of minutes.
next facility at Coimbatore will also be operational As a platform, Arya.ag is bringing together
in this quarter, after which it will be embarking multiple players offering BNPL services and plans
on its next phase of expansion where it will be to extend these financial solutions to warehouse
setting up operations in new locations as well rent, loan repayment, etc.
as increasing capacities in some of the existing
locations.
Cabinet approves reservation norms for
jute packaging materials
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has approved
reservation norms for mandatory use of jute in packaging for the Jute Year 2021 -22 (July 1, 2021, to
June 30, 2022) on November 10, 2021. The mandatory packaging norms approved
for Jute Year 2021-22 provide for 100 per cent reservation of the food grains and
20 per cent of sugar to be compulsorily packed in jute bags. The reservation
norms in the present proposal would further protect the interest of domestic
production of raw jute and jute packaging material in India. Reservation for
packaging in jute packaging material consumed around 66.57 per cent of
the raw jute produced in the country (in 2020-21). By bringing into effect
the provision of the JPM Act, the Government will provide relief to 0.37
million workers employed in jute mills and ancillary units as well as
support the livelihood of around 4.0 million farm families.
50 LSEUTP’ SP LTYA LCKHA GI NRNI CEUWLST U R E AGROSPECTRUM | DECEMBER 2021 | www.agrospectrumindia.com
Coasting on Ethanol
The vehicle population in India is around litre; the price of ethanol from sugarcane juice,
22 crore two and three wheelers and sugar/sugar syrup route be increased from Rs
about 3.6 crore four-wheelers (according 62.65/litre to Rs 63.45/litre.
to Society of Indian Automobile
Manufacturers (SIAM). The two wheelers account It may be noted that the government has
for 74 per cent and passenger cars around 12 per notified the administered price of ethanol since
cent of the total vehicle population on the road. 2014. For the first time during 2018, differential
The two-three wheelers consume 2/3rd of the price of ethanol based on raw material utilised
gasoline by volume, while 4 wheelers consume for ethanol production was announced by the
balance 1/3rd by volume. The growth rate of Government. These decisions have significantly
vehicles in this segment is pegged at around 8-10 improved the supply of ethanol thereby ethanol
per cent per annum. Based on expected growth in procurement by Public Sector Oil Marketing
vehicle population, NITI Aayog, which has come Companies (OMCs) has increased from 38 crore
up with a report titled ‘Roadmap for Ethanol litre in Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2013-14 to
Blending in India 2020-25’ on World Environment contracted over 350 crore litre in ongoing ESY
Day (June 5, 2021) noted that an estimated ethanol 2020-21. In the year 2017-18, installed capacity
demand of 1016 crore litres by 2025. of molasses-based distilleries in India was around
278 crore litres. To enhance ethanol production
The report noted that modelling exercise on capacity in the country, the government in July,
expected penetration of electric vehicles estimates 2018 and March, 2019 notified two interest
the ethanol demand for petrol blending in the subvention schemes for molasses-based
range of 722-921 crore litres in 2025. However, an distilleries. The Department of Food and Public
optimistic demand for ethanol (1016 crore litres) Distribution (DFPD) approved 368 projects
to ensure that the objectives of E20 are met by for setting up of new distilleries / expansion of
2025. The current ethanol production capacity in existing distilleries. Loans amounting to about
India of 426 crore litres derived from molasses- Rs 3600 crore have been sanctioned by banks
based distilleries, and 258 crore litres from grain to 70 sugar mills so far; 31 projects have been
based distilleries is proposed to be expanded to completed creating a capacity of 102 crore litres
760 crore litres and 740 crore litres respectively. as a result. The capacity of molasses-based
This would be sufficient to produce 1016 crore distilleries has reached to 426 crore litres. 39 more
litres of ethanol required for the Ethanol Blended projects with capacity of 93 crore litres are likely
Petrol (EBP) Programme and 334 crore litres for to be completed by March, 2022 which will bring
other uses. This will require 60 lakh metric tonnes cumulative capacities to about 519 crore litres.
(MT) of sugar and 165 lakh MT of grains per
annum in Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025 to be To achieve blending targets, DFPD is
used for producing ethanol, which the country can making concerted efforts to enhance the ethanol
support. On November 10, the Cabinet Committee distillation capacity in the country. Thus far, 238
on Economic Affairs gave its approval for fixing projects for a capacity enhancement of 583 crore
higher ethanol prices derived from different litres with a loan amount of about Rs 16,000 crore
sugarcane-based raw materials under the EBP have been approved by DFPD. It is expected that
Programme for the forthcoming sugar season at least 400 crore litres capacity would be added
2021-22 during ESY 2021-22 from December 1, from these projects by 2024.
2021 to November 30, 2022. With this, the price
of ethanol from C heavy molasses route will be All these would facilitate ease of doing
increased from Rs 45.69/litre to Rs 46.66/ litre; business and achieve the objectives of
the price of ethanol from B heavy molasses route Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
be increased from Rs 57.61/ litre to Rs 59.08/
Narayan Kulkarni,
Editor
[email protected]
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Floriculture Boom Adds to Agri growth Bouquet
The Government of India has identified floriculture as a sunrise industry and accorded it 100 per cent export oriented status. Floriculture in India, is being viewed as a high growth Industry. Commercial floriculture is becoming important from the export angle. The liberalisation of industrial and trade policies paved the way for development of export-oriented production of cut flowers. The new seed policy had already made it feasible to import planting material of international varieties. According to IMARC, a market research company, the Indian floriculture market is expected to reach a value of Rs 661 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 19.2 per cent during 2021-2026. As per figures provided by Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the country has exported 15,695.31 Metric Tonnes (MT) of floriculture products to the world for the worth of Rs 575.98 crore/($77.84 million) in 2020-21. We take a closer look at the projection for this new ray of agri growth for India.
On Fri, Dec 3, 2021 at 10:47 AM Ankit Kankar <[email protected]> wrote:
Floriculture Boom Adds to Agri growth Bouquet The Government of India has identified floriculture as a sunrise industry and accorded it 100
per cent export oriented status. Floriculture in India, is being viewed as a high growth Industry.Commercial floriculture is becoming important from the export angle. The liberalisation ofindustrial and trade policies paved the way for development of export-oriented production of
cut flowers. The new seed policy had already made it feasible to import planting material ofinternational varieties. According to IMARC, a market research company, the Indian floriculturemarket is expected to reach a value of Rs 661 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 19.2 per centduring 2021-2026. As per figures provided by Agricultural & Processed Food Products ExportDevelopment Authority (APEDA), the country has exported 15,695.31 Metric Tonnes (MT) offloriculture products to the world for the worth of Rs 575.98 crore/($77.84 million) in 2020-21. Wetake a closer look at the projection for this new ray of agri growth for India.
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