GM Foods: The Road Ahead for India

India's government has not yet announced a policy on GM foods because no GM crops (except GM Cotton) are grown in India and no products are commercially available in supermarkets yet. India is, however, very supportive of transgenic plant research. It is highly likely that India will decide that the benefits of GM foods outweigh the risks because Indian agriculture will need to adopt drastic new measures to counteract the country's endemic poverty and feed its exploding population.

Dr. Raina discusses a possible roadmap for this explosive, but important debate.

CLICK BELOW to listen!

EVENT ALERT

Workshop on Management of Insects in Stored Grains & Foods
July 22, 2011
New Delhi
http://bit.ly/l2gmYC

Workshop on Management of Insects in Stored Grains & Foods
July 25, 2011
Hyderabad
http://bit.ly/l2gmYC

6th Dairy And Agri Expo 2012
February 11-13, 2012 Punjab
http://bit.ly/mQX07A

ILDEX India 2011
September 15-17, 2011 Chennai
http://bit.ly/j9FfSb

KISAN : India’s Largest Agri Show
Dec 14-18, 2011
Pune
http://bit.ly/jjZHvJ

Bio Fach India international Organic trade Fair
Nov10-12, 2011 Bangalore
http://bit.ly/l24Xmg

Innovative and modern Technologies for Agricultural Productivity, Food Security and Environmental Management
July 22-23 2011 Mangalore
http://bit.ly/lbauuW

The Buzz(News In a Nutshell)

Goa Dairy Increases Milk Price For Farmers
The Nagaland State Government wants to put in place a quality regime for trade in eggs and other poultry products
Govt mulls cash subsidy for fertilizer retailers
India's onion export down by 31% to 12.89 MT in 2010-11
Centre procures 25.47-mn tonnes of wheat due to robust production
Ban on wheat, rice exports from govt stock
Shortage of paddy seeds affect raising kharif crop in Orissa
Agri sector grows by 6.6 pc in FY'11 on record foodgrain output
Groundnut oil prices firm on higher demand

Usher Agro Signed MoU with NBHC

Usher Agro Ltd, leading rice miller in India, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Bulk Handling Corporation Limited (NBHC) Ltd. for providing storage and handling of food grains across India for the company on a long-term basis. In this context, NBHC Ltd is building its first warehousing complex with silo with a capacity of 50,000 MT for storage of food grains exclusively for the company at Chhata district, Mathura, UP.
This will result in ease of operations for the company, according to a press release.

India's First GM vegetable is still waiting for clearance

Brinjal or baigan, is a very important common man’s vegetable in India. Low in calories and high in nutritional value. Brinjal is prone to attack from insect pests and diseases, the most serious and destructive of which is the fruit and shoot borer (FSB) Leucinodes orbonalis. There is no existing brinjal varieties with adequate resistance to FSB in India.

Keeping all the above points in mind Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco) has developed Bt brinjal using a transformation process similar to one used in development of Bt- cotton.

According to the latest press release Explore came to know that Mahyco is awaiting the decision of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) for environmental release of insect-resistant Bt brinjal. According to a resource person who spoke to Explore, Mahyco looks forward to a positive decision because it will help millions of our brinjal farmers who have been suffering from the havoc caused by the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (BFSB). Bt brinjal will help them tackle this pest in an environment-friendly manner and increase yields and farm income.

Delhi people will soon taste Tihar Jail's Bakery Products

Soon bakery products of Tihar Jail brand will be available in shops and stores across Delhi and the NCR (National Capital Region).

Tihar Jail (TJ) brand products, which according to officials are in huge demand, are available in 29 stores including Kendriya Bhandar as of now.
However, now most shops and stores in the city and the NCR will sell bread, bakery biscuits, buns, cake (muffins), rusk, namkeens, namakpaare, wafers, patties, pickle, papad, vermicelli and so on made by Tihar inmates.

TJ outlet is expected to open in Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital,which will be the first hospital to give its patients bread made by Tihar inmates, but it is yet not been confirmed. Talking to Explore Dr. Moni Deepa dietitian from DDU hospital said that it will be a good move, as more the products sell, the more it increases the job opportunities for the inmates inside the prison, but currently food department has no clue about opening of TJ outlet in hospital premises. There are possibilities of having this venture under administrative consideration, of which staff is not aware off.

Mythology of Agriculture

According to Hindu legend, Kanya Devi, an Avatar of Parvati, was to marry Siva, but as he failed to show up on his wedding day, the rice and other grains meant for the wedding feast remained uncooked and remain unused thereafter. As the legend goes, the uncooked grains turned into stones as time went by. Some believe that the small stones which look like rice on the shore today, are indeed grains of the wedding that was never solemnized. Kanya Devi is now considered a virgin goddess who blesses pilgrims and tourists who flock the town.

Know Your Animals!

The Gir is a famous milk cattle breed of India. The native tract of breed is Gir and the forest of Kathiawar including Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Amreli district of Gujrat. This breed is also known as Bhodali, Desan, Gujrati, Kathiawari, Sorthi and Surthi in different parts of the breeding tract. The gir animals are famous for their tolerance to stress conditions and resistance to various tropical disease. Bullocks of this breed are used to drag heavy loads on all kind of soil. The body weight at one year of age is 138 kg in males and 136 kg in female. Adult body weight, height at withers, body length and heart girth cow averaged 313kg, 120 cm, 125 cm and 160 cm, respectively. Milk yield per day of calving interval was 4.98 - 4.97cm. Gir animals are considered as hardy with low overall mortality. The Rabaris, Bharwads, Maldharis, Ahirs and Charnas tribes are mainly involved in rearing of Gir cattle. They move with their cattle from one place to another in search grazing. Sufficient fodder is available in pastures of the breeding tract from july to December, thereafter animals migrate to the adjoining districts.

ASSOCHAM and ICCOA Boosting Food Sector

In the present day, hosting events has become important for the food sector for the sectoral benefit, and participating in such events has become imperative for companies in this industry in order to get noticed. To fulfill these requirement many companies like Associated Chambers of Commerce a Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA) has decided to organize such events which will help agribusiness.

Recently, ASSOCHAM has decided to organize 3rd International Summit-cum-Exhibition on Food Processing, Agribusiness and Dairy on September 14, 2011 in the national capital. One of the spokesperson from ASSOCHAM Ahmedabad said that this event is the result of opportunities in food and food processing, skill, infrastructure, especially in areas of canning, dairy packaging, frozen food and thermo processing. The food processing sector is likely to grow by 20% and value addition in this regard is set to rise by 35% by 2015. This would open up for immense opportunities for big investments in the food and food processing sectors.

Similarly, ICCOA with Biofach is organizing 'Biofach India- India Organic Trade Fair 2011', Mr. Manoj Kumar Event Coordinator and Assistant Manager, ICCOA told Explore that this is an excellent opportunity for sectoral players, to get international exposure and become aware of global standards, he further added that these events are today's need if we want to survive in the industry we have to focus on contacting people through such events."

Purchasing of fruits and vegetables is just a click away

With growing number of websites catering to online purchase of fruits and vegetables, a new way of business in horticultural produce, has come to fore. With more and more companies invading the cyber horizon, purchasing fruits and vegetables has become easier, as they offer a list of items available for purchase and delivery within no time. These have entrenched themselves and have created different niches for themselves.


Mr. R.K Venkatesan has started 'Veggie Bazzar' a web portal to order and buy vegetables, and deliver them to home on a 24 hour notice in Chennai. While talking to Explore he said, "The main concept behind online vegetables and fruits shopping is to serve working class in order to reduce their time in going to vegetable market for shopping so, it is better to provide them what they want at their door steps. The maximum business is through telephone calls and the Internet so, people can save their time from wasting on these trifling things."

According to Gaurav Chamaria, team head, freshsubzi.com, online players have made several options available for customers and are benefiting not only customers but also companies.


Mr. Chetan Kumar Manager Reliance Fresh Store, Bangalore told Explore that reliance fresh is also planning to step forward in the market in near future.

Now it is 'Doodh ka Doodh Pani Ka Pani'

'Doodh Ka Doodh Pani Ka Pani Abhiyan' is being conducted by Bhopal Cooperative Dairy Federation with a view to making consumers aware of adulteration in milk. As many as 119 out of 172 samples were found sub-standard at a camp organised by Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Dairy Federation at Bhopal.


Over a telephonic conversation, Mr. R.S. Pathak General Manager, Bhopal Cooperative Dairy Federation, told Explore that this movement is to make consumers aware about adulteration in milk which they buy from local vendors.He revealed that people ask us why to take milk from Bhopal Cooperative Dairy Federation, and we answer through this way by conducting 'Doodh Ka Doodh Pani Ka Pani Abhiyan' in the residential colonies of Bhopal. A majority of milk purchased by the residents of Bhopal from vendors was found to be sub-standard. A total of 79 out of 172 samples were found sub-standard while adulteration of water was found in 40 samples. Only 53 samples were found to be standard.


The officers of the Dairy Federation have advised the citizens to purchase pasteurized Sanchi Milk instead of loose milk. Sanchi Milk is safe since it is pasteurized apart from being standardized under the Food and Adulteration Rules of the Government. Sanchi Milk is available in different tones and its price ranges from Rs 26 for Double Toned milk, Rs28 for Toned milk, Rs30 for Standard milk and Rs32 for Full Cream milk.

Interview with Mr. Manoj Kumar on Organic Farming In India: Status and Prospects

Mr. Manoj Kumar is Assistant Manager and Event Coordinator at International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA), Bangalore

Q.1 In your experience, What is your perception about market status of organic products in India?

A.1 Organic food is a growing business with good long-term prospects. The demand for the organic foods is rising in domestic markets at 15-20 %. The sales of organic products worldwide are touching US$ 50 billion and are expected to reach USD 100 billion by 2012. The trade estimate in India shows that the market for organic products have crossed USD 155 million in 2010 (exports at USD 120 million, i.e. INR 5500 million; and the domestic markets touching 35 million, i.e. INR1500 million).

The Indian organic produce is mainly exported to Japan, Netherlands, Italy, France, Switzerland, the UK and USA. India’s organic export is around Rs. 550 crores, which is only 0.25 % of the organic trade. India should target to reach at least USD 1 billion by 2012, thereby capturing at least 2.5% of global market share.

Emergence of Modern Format retail, growing concerns for health and increasing purchasing power of consumers has accelerated the growth of organic food sector in India. Organized Retail chains like Spencer’s, More, Hyper city, Spar, Nature’s Basket and many more have created Organic as separate category. Specialty stores like 24 Letter Mantra, Down to Earth (Morarka), Fab India are selling the certified organic products under their own brand name. Every month in India multi-branded specialty stores are introducing organic products in their stores.

Top 8 metros of India (Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad) contribute more than 80 per cent of sales in country. The most demanded food category are Vegetables, Fruits, Dairy products, Bakery products, Oil, Wheat/Atta, Frozen products and Rice.

Q.2 What are the thrust areas in which India Has to work upon in Organic Industry?

A.2 A systematic approach including all stakeholders of organic sector is important for developing Indian organic sector. Networking activities to create strategic alliances to boost both market access and farm productivity should be the priority. Here are some important thrust areas:
1. Policy Intervention from Govt.
2. Organic Animal husbandry (Dairy , Poultry and others)
3. Technical Capacity Enhancement and Extension
4. Integrated Input Production, On-farm input production and Bio-technology
5. Package of Practices (technologies for Soil Health improvement, Pest control)
6. Processing and Value addition Infrastructure Development
7. Facilitate Creation of Producer companies
8. Internal Quality/Control system (ICS) for quality assurance

Q.3 What is the knowledge level of farmers regarding organic farming?

A.3 Level of awareness about organic farming varies state to state in India. For the Indian farmers, the main motivating factor to convert from inorganic to organic are the market of organic products, the premium price which they get on organic products and health hazardous of inorganic methods of production. Farmers from hilly regions of India (Himalayan regions and North-east India) which is by default organic, are now focusing on certification of their lands which is the result of government projects to promote organic farming in India.

Basics of organic farming like maintaining buffer zone, mixed cropping, on-farm input generation, absolutely no use of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers, Internal control system, maintain the desired documents for certification, registration with certification agencies, etc. are taught by the local NGOs/organizations which are working for the promotion of organic farming.

Farmers who have registered for organic farming, knows preparation of organic formulation like Bijamruta, Panchgavya, vermin-wash, Biodynamic formulation, etc. Government schemes under NHM, RKVY, TMNE, etc., have accelerated the organic movement in India. Small and marginal farmers comes together to form clusters which helps in reducing cost of certification and input generation.

Q.4 What are the experiences of being in the Industry?

A.4 As it is a fast growing sector in India, there is a lot to do. There is addition of numbers of small and medium player in this industry every month but there is huge gap in understandings of consumer’s about organic and its benefits. As per capita purchasing power and concerns about health is increasing, demand for organic products are also increasing. Consumers need full basket of organic including fresh fruits & vegetables, dairy and meat products. But most of the players are failed to fulfil the needs of the consumers.

Organic products are still a life style product in India. Sometimes the premium which is paid by the consumers to buy organic goes up to 100 per cent. Consumers do not mind paying 15-20 per cent extra to buy organic products but consistency in supply and availability of organic products is also a major problem in India.

There are not much subsidies or support from the government, which force farmers to switch from organic to inorganic. If adequate support from govt. and assurance of market is there, farmers will be more than happy to go for organic.

Q.5 Where do you see India 5ys from now in the Industry?

A.5 As Govt. of India has announced separate standards & organic logo (AGMARK logo) for the domestic marketing of organic products in India, it will built credibility among the Indian consumers. Every state will have its own certification agency which will help farmers to get their land certified conveniently. Seeing the growth in recent past, it is very easy to estimate that India will have more than 2 million ha land under organic management. Export potential will be Rs. 25000 million (2.5 % of global share) and total turnover with organic products will be more than Rs. 40 billion in India.

Discussion Forum on Vermicomposting !!!

Vermicomposting is a modified and specialised method of composting - the process uses earthworms to eat and digest farm wastes and turn out a high quality compost in two months or less. Vermicompost is not a biofertiliser as is touted by some, merely an improved compost.
Vermicompost can also be used to make compost tea. Vermicompost tea is useful as a prophylactic against pests and diseases, for pest repelling and as a foliar spray. A by-product of vermicomposting called vermiwash (which can be collected if there is a tap at the base of the vermicompost tank) also serves the same purpose.
An important point to note in case of vermicomposting but widely ignored, is to carry out proper sieving of the compost before applying it in the fields. The most efficient and widely-used earthworms in vermicomposting are not indigenous and if the worms and casts find their way to the fields, they will quickly colonise and dominate the local species. Farmers can also use indigenous earthworm species, collecting them from their fields using collection baits and introducing the earthworms into heaps.
In the usual way vermicomposting is practiced in India and most other places around the world, it is both labour-intensive and requires some infrastructure. As a result, while a small farm can use this method to compost most of its wastes, a larger farm often finds it expensive and difficult to compost most of its wastes through vermicomposting. We have after some experimentation developed a methodology through which these issues are resolved - labour, time, managerial inputs, infrastructure and the usage of exotic worms.

Interview with Dr. William D Dar, Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) near Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Q1: In your experience what is your perception of the Indian agriculture Industry?

Agriculture is one of the strongholds of the Indian economy. However, as we see it, Indian agriculture is currently in a transition state given the convergence of various factors such as shrinking land, low productivity, limited potential to expand irrigated agriculture, declining productivity, and poor infrastructure in the villages. Reports indicate that the contribution of Indian agriculture to GDP has come down drastically to about 18 percent. And while agriculture is directly connected to food, nutrition, health and environment of 50-65 percent of Indian population, given the choice we think a large number of farmers would move out of agriculture and migrate to the city.

In India, the dependence of a large number of people on agriculture for their livelihoods is a paradox. Agriculture, particularly dryland agriculture, currently constitutes 60 percent of arable land in this country. Yet, it remains at subsistence level where a large proportion of farmers are not able to meet their own demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel. India also has a considerable number of poor people (below 300 million) and a high incidence of malnutrition among children.

Taking all that in consideration, India has enormous potential to become a major player in the global agricultural industry.We strongly believe that the best way to reverse Indian agriculture’s decline is to pave the way for the much needed transition from subsistence agriculture to an inclusive market-oriented agriculture supported with a high level of investment.

We at ICRISAT have determined based on a scientific assessment that current farmers’ yields particularly in the drylands of India are lower by four- to five-folds than the achievable potential yields. To achieve full productivity, there is a need to adopt innovative science-led approaches supported by enabling policies and mechanisms, and increased investments for extension as well as research for development.

Along this line, we have been harnessing complementary and purposeful partnerships to more directly address the needs of smallholders including their connections to market opportunities. We are confident that our Inclusive Market-Oriented Development or IMODwill serve as a dynamic progression from subsistence towards market-oriented agriculture. We believe that innovative products, processes and concepts by entrepreneurs and their integration into existing agricultural systems is the pathway to true inclusive agricultural growth in India, in particular, and in the drylands of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, in general.


Q2: In your opinion what are the top three challenges which agriculture needs to correct to catapult it into becoming a global player?

To harness the potential of Indian agriculture (characterized by subsistence agriculture) to become a market-oriented agriculture, there are a number of challenges, but the most important ones are as follows:

1. Scarce water resources and degraded land are major concerns and bottlenecks for unlocking the potential of agriculture in India. Most part of the country, except the Northeast region, will face severe scarcity of water by 2025. This will be an enormous challenge, considering that agriculture is the major consumer of water for food production to feed the growing population, which is already almost1.2 billion. Land resource in the country is also in a state of degradation and most of agricultural lands are suffering one or other form of land degradation such as nutrient depletion, soil erosion, wind erosion, salinity and water logging, crust formation, development of hard land at shallow depth, toxicity of certain elements, and loss of soil bio-diversity.

To overcome this challenge, farmers will have to adopt scientific agricultural practices that are environment-friendly and sustainable. The most urgent concern is to conserve and harvest rainwater and minimize land degradation to kick start the engine of agricultural growth in the country. Emphasis must be shifted from only rainwater harvesting and conservation to efficient use of available water resources.

There are a number of ways and means that India may adopt to minimize land degradation, largely through diversification with legumes, minimizing soil erosion through appropriate landform treatments, rainwater harvesting for increasing groundwater recharge, and appropriate soil test based nutrient management practices. ICRISAT and its partners have mapped more than 50,000 fields in different states of the country and observed that the Indian soils are not only water deficient, but 80-100% of the farmers’ fields are also deficient in multiple micro- and secondary nutrients along with nitrogen and phosphorus. A large number of small and marginal farmers do not have access to knowledge about soil health and options for correcting these deficiencies. ICRISAT along with the Government of Karnataka have undertaken a mission mode project “Bhoochetana” under which all the 30 districts in the state are mapped for soil health. Taluk-wise recommendations based on soil analysis results are provided to the farmers, ensuring timely supply of required inputs (macro- and micro-nutrients, improved seeds, bio-fertilizer and seed treatment, chemicals and suitable machinery etc.). This mission mode project covered a 2- million ha area during 2010-11 season.

Using the inputs provided under the project, farmers in different parts of the state enjoyed up to 60 per cent increased yields of different crops (finger millet, sorghum, groundnut, soybean, maize, green gram, black gram, pigeon pea, chick pea, etc.). This is a novel undertaking in which knowledge-generating institutions like state agriculture universities and ICRISAT are linked with extension agencies (Department of Agriculture) to bring knowledge to the doorsteps of the farmers.

2. The second challenge not only to Indian agriculture but to the world as well is climate change. With increasing variability in high and low temperatures and rainfall distribution (quantity and intensity), small and marginal farmers in India become more and more vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. Hence, there is a need to build the system’s resilience with climate-change ready crops, knowledge of adaptation and mitigation strategy, and linking farmers with toward an inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth.

ICRISAT has adopted the Inclusive Market Oriented Development (IMOD)strategy to move people out of poverty from subsistence agriculture to marketable surplus agricultural economy with increased availability of research products, knowledge, institutional support, credit facilities and market linkages. This is a tall order and an enormous challenge which we will have to address for millions of small and marginal farmers and India can make it happen if it wants.

3. The third challenge is how to reach millions of small and marginal farm households to benefit from improved products, technologies, and approaches for sustainable management of agriculture generated by national and international institutions. Currently, extension support for farmers in India needs a lot of strengthening, and here we need to bring in innovative communication and technology transfer and exchange tools and practices to reach small and marginal farm households. The convergence of different arms of the government along with agricultural research institutions and corporate industries is very much needed, because productivity alone will not translate into improved livelihoods unless the assured price support by the industry is provided to the small and marginal farmers. Knowledge and innovations will stimulateagro-enterprises, raise rural incomes and create opportunities beyond agriculture. Smallholder farm families have to be empowered and assisted along this development pathway to lead them from pessimism to prosperity.


Q3: What are the experiences of the agriculture industry?And what are its strategies for future growth?

As we know, the agriculture industry in India has the capacity to produce the required food for its people, but the challenge is not only to produce more with limited resources through increased productivity. The major challenge on agriculture in the country, as emphasized by various state governments, is to transform Indian agriculture into a major global player to help achieve food security not only for its own population, but also for the global markets.

Upgrading rainfed agriculture through integrated watershed management practices, RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana (RKVY), pulse villages, vegetable villages around urban areas, horticultural missions, oil seed missions and so on – all these are directed toward improving the agriculture industry in the country. However, investments need to be substantially increased along with enabling policies and their implementation in the right spirit by building partnership through convergence of research institutions, developing agents, corporate industry, and most importantly farmers’organizations to jump-start the engine to the inclusive and sustainable growth of the country’s agriculture industry.

ICRISAT together with our partners are putting our best efforts through the development of climate-change ready crops. Some of these are pearl millet which can flower and set seeds above 40oC; short duration chickpeas which can be grown in Southern India and has been revolutionizing chickpea production in Andhra Pradesh; development of pigeon pea hybrid which is the first in the world; and developing cultivars with tolerance to pests and diseases using new molecular biological tools.

ICRISAT together with our partners are also revolutionizingdryland agriculture through the integrated watershed development program approach where rainwater conservation and harvesting is used as an entry point to move farmers from subsistence agriculture to IMOD in a step-wise approach. Farmers can double the productivity of rainfed crops, and with increased water availability and ability to invest more in agriculture, diversifying into cultivation of high-value market oriented crops to bring in additional income for their families can be realized. The convergence of all these, and the inclusion of livestock-based activities, diversification of sources of livelihoods, building resilience to cope with the impacts of climate change – is what we call inclusive pathways to prosperity.

Our basic approach in ICRISAT is to use research for development and build on partnerships to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. IMOD is a win-win strategy for all stakeholders, but it calls for not only increased investment but a change of mindset in the way we do the business of agricultural management.

EVENT ALERT

Stevia Global Summit 2011 on 27 March at New Delhi, India.
http://bit.ly/fNnm8v

Krishi-Dhan Conference from 28 to 30 April at Mumbai, India.
http://bit.ly/hZ90Kd

Bakery World 2011 on 15 June at Mumbai, India.
http://bit.ly/eMpw0F

6th National Extension Education Congress on Emerging Models og Technology Application for Agri-rural Development from
26 to 29 November, Goa, India.
http://bit.ly/hC6KLD

Give Women equal access for better farm output: FAO

If women in rural areas had the same access to land, technology, financial services, education and markets as men, agricultural production could be increased and the number of hungry people reduced by 100-150 million,” the FAO said in the 2010-11 edition of The State of Food and Agriculture report.

Just giving women the same access as men to agricultural resources could increase production on women’s farms in developing countries by 20-30 per cent, the study said.
It observed that yields on plots managed by women were lower than those managed by men. But this was not because women were worse farmers than men. They simply did not have the same access to inputs, the report said.

HC orders tests on Vegetables for Pesticides

Concern -ed over reports of rampant use of banned pesticides in fruits and vegetables, the Delhi High Court has asked the Centre and the city government to conduct tests in approved laboratories after procuring vegetables “randomly” from various places.

“We would like to find out as to whether pesticides are there in the vegetables sold in Delhi or not. It would be appropriate that the vegetables be purchased randomly and sent for the test at laboratories, certified by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories,” according to the bench headed by the Chief Justice, Dipak Misra.

India needs Rs 1,08,000 cr for Food Security

Indian agri- culture needs Rs 1,08,000 crore to fight climate change in the next five years to ensure food for all at a reasonable price by 2020. To prevent food catastrophe, the agriculture ministry has asked the funds for implementing National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture under the Prime Minister.

"There is a new way to promote use of wheat and rice varieties that consume 30-40% less water than traditional varieties. Farmers also need to be educated about early harvesting technologies to check impact of rising temperature," a senior scientist with the Indian Council for Agriculture Research said.

Centre wants private dairy sector to tackle rising Milk demand

To meet the growing demand for milk, the government is working on a series of proposals to further liberalize the dairy sector and encourage entrepreneurs from the private sector. Officials said the department of animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries is expected to grant priority sector lending status to the dairy sector, even for a more than Rs 1 crore loan.

“Considering that the requirement of milk in 2021-22 is expected to be 180mt, production must increase at around 5.5% per annum for the next 12 years. If it fails to do so, India may need to resort to imports from the world market,” said the government’s economic survey.

Govt is committed to the growth of Food Processing sector

Inaugurating the 26th edition of International Food & Hospitality Fair, AAHAR, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, said that his department and the Union Government was committed to provide all assistance for the growth of food processing sector in the country. He said that the agriculture and food processing sector had comparative advantage in terms of employment generation in rural India and therefore could not be ignored.

The minister said that the potential of the food processing sector lay between reality and opportunity. Despite being the highest producer of vegetables, food grains, and poultry products, the minister said that processing of these farm produces was quite low in the country.

10% rise in Agri exports during April-November

India’s exports of agricultural and processed food products are set to increase significantly despite a decline in shipments of basmati rice, a key export item. According to the latest data from Apeda, during April-November 2010, the total volume of exports increased by close to 10% to Rs 24,119 crore from Rs 21,979 crore reported over the same period in the previous year.

This increase has been possible because of significant growth in exports of pulses, guar gum and meat products. Total exports from the Apeda basket went up to Rs 34,450 cr in 2009-10 from Rs 34,450 in 2008-09. This was despite the government continuing to ban export of non-Basmati rice, which used to contribute around Rs 7,000 crore to Apeda’s export kitty

The Buzz(News In a Nutshell)

Banned pesticides being used in India admits Pawar New certification agency to boost organic farming NIIT appointed training delivery partner by Ministry of Agriculture New Delhi Mega strike plan may hit agriculture sector Farm credit demand will be aggressive, FM tells banks Demand for more funds to agriculture, education sectors Budget short of strategy to boost agriculture output Govt not worried about food inflation India enhancing food processing, cold chain capacity Delay in GM food may cost India heavily Govt may allow FDI in multi-brand retailing Haryana to follow PPP model for new storage facilities Govt to check the nutritional balance of the food served in anganwadi AIFPA points at serious anomalies in Plastics (Manufacture, Usage and Waste Management) Rules, 2009

Interview With Mr. Srinivas Sharma, Manager Marketing, Sai Seeds.

Q1-How is the Indian Seed industry growing?
A-Quality seed is one of the most important input for enhancing crop production and productivity. The gap between the availability and the requirement of quality seed is quite high in the country and therefore needs proper attention. Hence, the efforts of central government to encourage the farmers/entrepreneurs for quality seed production and processing by providing subsidy is time driven and would prove to be a worthy exercise in meeting the country’s need in the agricultural sector.


Q2-There is also criticism that the use of food crops for energy production could lead to an increase in the price of food.

A-Today, approximately 30% of the total corn harvest in the India is used to produce ethanol; if this were no longer possible, a crowding-out effect would occur – not in the India where corn farming is highly efficient, but in the rest of the world.

Q3-Does the market mechanism on the Indian agricultural market differ from that in the rest of the world?

A-On the one hand, there are major similarities. Farmers in the India have the same goals as those in other countries. In both cases, they have to deal with weather and climate conditions and their aim is to obtain good harvests. In addition to a capacity for investment, they need technological resources to make this possible. Nevertheless, major differences also exist. Indian farmers can sow their seeds in the knowledge that they will be able to sell what they harvest.

Interview with Mr. Abhinav Kumar, Technical Food Administrator at Flexible Packaging, UK.

Q1- What are the shifts within the packaging industry towards green technology or materials in packaging?

A-The terms ‘green’ and ‘environmentally friendly’ packaging have been used (and misused) for many years. Twenty years ago packaging had to be environmentally friendly but nowadays it has to be sustainable. One element common to all these terms is that none has an agreed definition.

Q2-How does food packaging contribute to sustainability?

A-Packaging’s contribution to economic, environmental and social sustainability can be illustrated by the fact that in developing countries the lack of packaging or inadequate packaging results in 30% to 50% of all food produced never reaching the final consumer. This compares with 2% to 5% in developed countries. So what the developing world needs is actually more and better packaging; this could make a significant contribution to reducing world hunger.

Q3-What are the Greatest challenges facing food Packaging industry?

A-Much is made of biobased packaging materials since they are made from renewable resources but the rhetoric never matches the reality. Total production of bioplastics this year is less than 500,000 tonnes compared with around 250 million tonnes of petroleum based plastics. So it is still a very small niche market and will do little to reduce overall environmental impacts. In fact the assumption that biobased packaging materials are better for the environment is not universally true and they will not provide a magic bullet to solve packaging waste problems. However, this has not stopped companies marketing products in biobased packaging materials and targeting wealthy consumers who genuinely want to do the right thing for the environment. So the biggest challenge is ensuring that claims for ‘greener’ packaging can really be substantiated using anevidence-based approach, i.e. life cycle assessment.

The Buzz(News In a Nutshell)

India wheat, non-basmati rice export ban may continue: USDA Agriculture reform at heart of India budget Growth-oriented move with focus on rural economy CU Leads Agricultural Project, Promotes Food Security in India Budget struck balance between rural, urban India: Prithviraj Chavan Budget focuses on infra agriculture Parag Parikh South India chosen for most of oil palm boost Pawar hails Budget as farmer-friendly India's fruits veggies production estimated to rise this yr No integrated strategy for food security, agriculture Chhattisgarh's prime farm lands caught in 'power' grab Youth should be encouraged to solve crises-ridden agriculture 'India requires to import 3.4 mn tonne pulses in 2011-12 4.6% fiscal deficit goal will be met: Kaushik Basu India's Food Inflation Slows to Near 3-Month Low on Harvest India facing 50 % shortage of agri-scientists at entry level India, a great potential for Italian agriculture and food business 100000 tonnes of stockfeed to be sent back to India Sri Biotech to set up Rs 30 crore discovery centre Indian research boost overlooks agriculture Fruit, vegetable production increases Budget 2011 will help raise level of 'aam admi': Lord Paul

EVENT ALERT

-GLOBALGAP Tour 2011 From 1 to 2 March at New Delhi, India.
-http://bit.ly/eqXDGC

-Green investment Congress India 2011 from 3 to 4 March at Mumbai, India.
-http://bit.ly/eJSpUK


-International Conference on on Agriculture market in the context of changing global economic order From 25 to 26 March, Mysore, India.
-http://bit.ly/fnq0ch


-Innovative and modern technologies for agriculture productivity and environmental management From 21 to 22 April at Bhubhaneshwar, India.
-http://bit.ly/i2n30Q

Rise in export of processed food

The minister of state for food processing industries, Harish Rawat, said in Rajya Sabha, "There has been a steady rise in the exports of processed foods up to the year 2008-09. In 2009-10, a decline was noticed which was primarily due to global recession. However, in 2010-11 there are signs of slight increase in the export of processed foods."
As per the competitiveness report of National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC), there were 25, 367 registered food processing units in the country whose total invested capital was Rs 84,094 crore. The annual turnover was Rs 2,04,267 crore. The annual average growth rate of the food processing sector was 7% in 2004 which had gone up to over 14% in 2010.

Milk crisis in India is increasing

Milk might be more costlier by 2021. India may have to import milk to meet a growing gap between demand and production potentially leading to global price hikes, if current trends continue. Key investment measures focused on increasing milk productivity alone can keep.
“With higher growth of the economy, increase in population and increased health consciousness among the populace".
India will need to increase milk production by about 5.5% per year to meet its requirement of 180 million tonne in 2021-22, projected under the National Dairy Plan.

Agri land shrinks by 2.76 mn hectare

In India agri cultural land has shrunk by nearly two per cent in the last two decades, a fact which does not augur well for the predominate agrarian country.
Total agricultural land in India in 2008-09 was 182.385 million hectare against 185.142 million hectare in 1988-89, a fall by 2.76 million hectare, according to the data provided by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in Parliament recently.

As per the 2001 census, the percentage of population employed in agriculture was 58.2 per cent of total workers population of 402.2 million in the country, Minister of State for Agriculture Arun Yadav had informed Parliament last week.
On steps taken to arrest the decline in the agricultural land, the minister said that as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, land falls under the purview of the state governments and, therefore, it is for the state governments to bring in suitable policy to prevent the diversion of agricultural land for non-agriculture purposes.

Indian Agro- industry Scenario

Agroindustry have been given significant priority in economic development in India. Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on developing village-based agroindustry in the movement for independence marked the beginning. Is the priority given to agroindustry justified today? The agroindustrial sector in India contributes a large share of overall employment in industry as well as value addition and income generation. Managerially, one of the major challenges lies in organizing sustained production and procurement from large numbers of small farmers. A partnering approach appears to be most promising in overcoming multiple constraints. It can be implemented either through building cooperative organizations or by building confidence and trust through a mutually beneficial business relationship involving private enterprise and farmers. In both cases, and with other successful models, the government must play a facilitating role through enabling policies, regulations, financing options, and research and development.

It requires long-term commitment and financial strength with limited scope for affecting large numbers of rural poor. It is critical that alternative agroindustrial models are encouraged to emerge and receive strong government backing, especially those models that contribute positively to rural employment, poverty alleviation.

Dr. Sreenath, Principal Consultant and an Agriculturist.

Ban on Endosulfan in Karnataka opposed by pesticide industry

A temporary ban of 60 days imposed by the government of Karnataka on production and usage in the state has evoked strong opposition from the manufacturers and formulators of Endosulfan across the country. Several associations representing the Endosulfan industry have issued statements criticising the move.

Commenting on the development, Pradip Dave, president, Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) said “This is playing straight into the hands of vested interests such as the European Union, who have a direct business interest in the ban of Endosulfan. The overall design of the EU stakeholders is to ban this popular low-cost, off-patent pesticide and replace it with expensive patented products.”

Need for second green revolution: Pawar

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said “a second green revolution” would be one of India's major achievements in the coming years.

“We feel, with our efforts, our nation's major achievement in the next five years will be a second green revolution, not just in crops, but also in fisheries, meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables,” Mr. Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of a party meet on Panchayati Raj on Saturday.
In his address, he cautioned against ignoring 62 per cent of the country dependent on agriculture. “India covers two and a half per cent of the total land in the world. It has three and a half per cent of the world's water resources. However, it accounts for 17 per cent of the world population. [Given this imbalance], the farmer takes care of the needs of one billion people. His condition must be improved,” Mr. Pawar said.

Capital investment in Farm sector should be more

The economic survey mentioned the need for increasing capital investment in agriculture by both public and private sector to offset negligible growth and marginal increase in production of many crops.

In the last five years, investment in agriculture in the economy has hovered around 2%-3%. It was maximum in 2008-09 when it crossed 3%. The quick estimate for 2009-10 is 2.97%.

"Capital investment is agriculture as a percentage of the GDP has been stagnating in recent years although the capital expenditure in agriculture as a percentage of the GDP is agriculture has shown some improvements in the current Five Year Plan. It may, however, also be noted that the agriculture sector GDP has itself been stagnating during the last three years from 2007-08 to 2009-10," the survey reported.
It also underlined the importance of linking farmers to the market where the experience of cooperatives in the milk sector could come in handy.

Interview with Dr. Rajesh, Senior Scientist

Q1: In your experience what is your perceptions of Indian Agriculture industry?

A- India is the second largest producer of food in the world. Whether it is canned food, processed food,
food grains, dairy products, frozen food, fish, meat, poultry, the Indian agro industry has a huge potential, the significance and growth of which will never cease.

Q2: In your opinion what are the top three challenges which the industry needs to correct to catapulate itself into a global player?

A: It needs to modernize the available Technologies in delivering the best of services.

Q3: What are the experiences of "Agriculture industry"? And what are its strategies for its future growth?

A: India must diversify her agricultural exports. For example, since 2000, even in commodities such as tea, coffee, cocoa are limited. As India opens up externally, it is also expected to face vulnerability in the wider international price fluctuations. Spices, where India is supposed to have a comparative advantage

EVENT ALERT

Kerala agri food technology expo 2011 from February 24 to 27, 2011 at Thrissur, Kerala,India.
http://bit.ly/eFgq86

-Food Pack Hyderabad- An exhibition on food processing industry from February 25 to 27, 2011 at NSIC trade centre, Hyderabad.
http://bit.ly/cBvyig

-Rythu Pragati- an agricultural trade show from March 6 to 9, 2011 at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
http://bit.ly/eEXtfd

-International conference on Agricultural Marketing from March 25 to 26, 2011 at Mysore, Karnataka.
http://bit.ly/fnq0ch

-Global Agri Connect 2011-conference & exhibition from 14 to 16 October, 2011 at IARI, Pusa Campus, New Delhi.
http://bit.ly/gOnRsJ

Sikkim turns organic!

The north east states of India have been actively promoting organic farming and Sikkim has gone to the extent that it hoped to see the state fully organic by 2015.

“The Sikkim government is pursuing an ambitious plan to make the state fully organic by 2015, hoping to transform it into a hot spot for organic products,” state agriculture minister D N Takarpa said.

At the Sikkim Food Processing Investors meet, the minister said, “Once the goal has been achieved in 2015, the value of organic products of the state would yield good value not only in the domestic market but also in the international market

CIFT in US??

Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, conducted a meeting of scientists and technical officers on February 17, 2011.

Dr Bala Swaminathan, senior vice-president, technical, and business development, IHRC, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA, delivered a speech on 'Revolutionising Food-borne Disease Outbreak Investigations in the United States.”

Dr Swaminathan, with more than 30 years of research and management experience in the application of molecular biology techniques to the practical problems of public health and food safety, was the driving force behind the development of PulseNet, a successful molecular sub-typing-based network to detect outbreaks involving food-borne pathogens in the U S.

No ban on onion exports: EGoM

The decision taken by an empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Thursday to lift the ban on exports on onion completely but set a minimum export price of $600 a tonne as a precaution against further price rice of the commodity.

Meanwhile food inflation, based on the annual Price Index, eased to a two-month low in early February on moderating prices on onions and other vegetables. The food price index fell to 11.05 per cent for the week ended February 5, down from 13.1 per cent a week earlier. Economists expect further easing as vegetables prices at the wholesale level has come down further

Enzyme to keep bread Fresh

Consumers expect baked goods to be fresh and tasty – and to help manufacturers meet this demand, speciality chemicals supplier Cognis has now developed the innovative bakery enzyme preparation Nutrilife AS M. This product significantly slows down staling and improves the elasticity of the crumb, according to a press release from the company.

Delicious sandwich bread, tasty soft buns, mouth-watering panettone – all of them taste great when they are fresh. To keep baked goods soft and moist for as long as possible, manufacturers need solutions that combine excellent quality with a great mouthfeel. The new enzyme in Cognis’ Nutrilife range is tailor-made for maximum freshness retention in all yeast-raised baked products.

Delhi help sought on fertilisers

Meghalaya sought 8,860 metric tonnes of fertilisers from the Centre to meet the demands of farmers during this year’s kharif season.
The demand was made at the Northeast zonal conference on Agricultural Inputs for Kharif, 2011, organised by the Union ministry of agriculture, department of agriculture and cooperation in collaboration with the department of agriculture of the state government.
State agriculture joint director (administration and accounts) in-charge of fertilisers, L. Marbaniang, said Meghalaya requires 3,900 tonnes of urea, 2,500 of DAP, 2,200 tonnes of SSP and 260 tonnes of MOP for the kharif season.
Marbaniang also said fertilisers lifted by the state during the rabi season included 3,068 tonnes of urea, 1,528 tonnes of DAP, 2,024 tonnes of SSP and 72 tonnes of DOP.
However, as farmers of the state are cultivating rabi crops upto March, the state sought additional fertilisers of 500 metric tonnes for the rabi season. This included 400 metric tonnes of DAP and 100 metric tonnes of urea.

Israel to invest Rs. 40,000 cr in India

Israel has evinced interest to make a whopping investment of nearly Rs 40,000 crore in sectors like agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and dairy in Madhya Pradesh.

"A team of Indo-Israel Chamber of Commerce led by Embassy of Israel Economic Counsellor Mouneer Agbariya recently met the state government officials and showed interest to invest nearly Rs 40,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh," Rajendra Kothari, state director, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said.

“Israel is keen to invest in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and dairy sectors in Madhya Pradesh,” he said. The team held meetings with principal secretary, agriculture and cooperative department, horticulture and food processing and director, horticulture, adding that the second-round of talks regarding investments would take place in March.

Avian Flu outbreak !!

Meghalaya has sounded an alert following an outbreak of avian flu in Tripura and Bangladesh , Deputy Chief Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bindo M. Lanong said Friday.
'All veterinary officials, especially those posted on the Bangladesh border, have been asked to keep a close watch and take all possible preventive measures,' he told.

Lanong said there has been no confirmation of any unusual mortality of birds in the state, especially in areas bordering Bangladesh.

Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh.At least 3,000 poultry, including chicken and ducks, were Friday culled in a state-owned poultry and within its three km radius here following outbreak of bird flu in Tripura.

Goa ideal to promote Indian Wines!

In a recent seminar on food processing organised by the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Ashok Sinha, secretary, ministry of food processing industries, said that Goa could be an ideal destination to promote Indian wines, given the heavy inflow of foreign tourists.

Sinha said that Goa could be a platform to showcase wines indigenous to India without branding them under various companies. The wine industry which was growing by 25-30% annually had a challenging job on safety and cleanliness front.

GPS tracking devices for PDS in J&K

In response to the damning media reports on the dubious public distribution system, the Jammu and Kashmir government was all set to introduce e-measures to their PDS which included the installation of the GPS tracking devices on vehicles carrying food and other supplies so as to check pilferage.

"The state government has decided to introduce information technology in public distribution system and launch e-PDS in Jammu and Kashmir," state minister for consumer affairs & public distribution Qamar Ali Akhoon said.

He said that a process for tie-up with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for successful implementation of e-PDS had already been initiated.

India need to modernize agricultural marketing: PM

India needs a major revolution in agricultural marketing, says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “Agricultural diversification in food requires back-up support in terms of viable delivery and marketing chains because much of the agricultural produce is perishable. We have not done as much as we should have to promote modernization of agricultural marketing,” Singh said at the inaugural session of the three-day “Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition and Health” conference organised by US-headquartered International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

Meet this Young Achiever!

Twenty-one-year-old Tanvi Pal from the city made a record of sorts at the seventh annual convocation of Anand Agricultural University

"It is because of the passion with which she pursued her bachelors that she has won so many medals," said Tanvi's proud father Mahitosh Pal, who along with his wife Bhavna collected the medals on their daughter's behalf. . As a student of Bachelors of Science (BSc) in agriculture, Tanvi bagged as many as 15 awards including 14 gold medals and one cash prize at the convocation in Anand district

History of Agriculture

By. Mr. Raghav Sharma.

A fourth South Asian agricultural region, the Ganges River valley, became increasingly developed after about 3000 bp. Although it is clear that some of these changes arose from contact with Indo-European speaking peoples known as Aryans, notions of a devastating Aryan invasion are mistaken and in the past tended to obscure objective research on the region’s history.
Through various forms of exchange, the region saw the introduction of the horse, coinage, the Brahmi script, and the whole corpus of Vedic texts. Written sources of information join the archaeological sources from this point onward. The plow, for example, figures in a hymn of the most ancient of the texts, the Rigveda:Apparently, rice played an important role in the growth of population and the founding of new settlements.
In the later Vedic texts there are repeated references to agricultural technology and practices, including iron implements; the cultivation of a wide range of cereals, vegetables, and fruits; the use of meat and milk products; and animal husbandry. Farmers plowed the soil several times, broadcast seeds, and used a certain sequence of cropping and fallowing. Cow dung provided fertilizer, and irrigation was practiced where necessary.

A more secular eyewitness account is available from Megasthenes , a Greek envoy to the court of the Mauryan empire. In his four-volume Indica he wrote:
India has many huge mountains which abound in fruit-trees of every kind, and many vast plains of great fertility.The greater part of the soil, moreover, is under irrigation, and consequently bears two crops in the course of the year.In addition to cereals, there grows throughout India much millet and much pulse of different sorts, and rice also, and what is called bosporum [Indian millet].

Mr. Raghav Sharma is a professor of Soil Microbiology..

Core committies for increased agricultural productivity

Three core areas have been identified for increasing agricultural productivity and strengthening food security in the region under the Indo-US Agricultural Innovation Partnership (AIP) project, launched at BHU

The five-year project would cost around 10 billion dollars.

Talking to journalists after the launch of AIP, K Vijayaraghavan, regional coordinator, Cornell University, south Asia programme, said that primarily, the strategic partnership would promote field experience of students studying food sciences, agriculture and life sciences. on Thursday.

India can become Food basket of the world: Scindia

A second Green Revolution, involving technical innovation, increased investment in agriculture and proper infrastructure for food processing can make India the "food basket of the world", Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said on Sunday.

"Agriculture sector is critical for our economy as 60-70 per cent of our population is dependent on it for livelihood. We require 4.5 to 5 per cent growth in the farm sector to uplift our economy in rural areas," Scindia said at an award function organized by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) here.

Non tariff barriers taken to be more seriously

Indian agricultural products will have to move up the value chain in order to achieve the export target of 15 billion dollars in the next three years and the main challenge for the sector will be to deal with emerging range of non-tariff barriers, Union Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar, said.

Speaking at the Export Awards function of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) which coincided with celebrations of APEDA's completion of 25 years, the Commerce Secretary said, 'The agri products will have to deal with emerging non-tariff barriers such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures. We have to address quality and technical issues more seriously.' He also warned that the traceability measures deployed in various agri-products to meet with international requirements may become another mode of banning.

Home marketing proves profitable than exporting

Exporters of premium and quality foods find it more profitable to sell them in the home market than exporting them. The new found Indian craze for export quality speciality teas and coffee, seafood, dry fruits, spices and the famed long-grained Basmati rice is posing a new challenge for the food industry that is now looking at ways to meet the ever-increasing local demand. Prices of several products are equal to, and in certain cases, more than what foreign consumers have to pay. And clearly, no one is complaining.

Indian Scientist develops rice that can grow under high saline condition

Dr SK Sopory (group leader) of International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi have come close to developing a special submergence tolerant variety of rice that can be grown even in high saline condition.

The special variety of rice has been developed with transgenic technology, transferring salinity tolerant genes from brassica and rice plants and the technology is also believed to be safe unlike Bt technology that transfers stress resistant genes from bacteria, raising fears about bio-safety and eco-safety measures.

Do you know Aishwarya Rai Guava?

A variety of Guava has been named after bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai.It will be available in the Indian markets soon.This new variety has been developed by Padmashree horticulturist Haji Kaleemullah Khan after dedicating 8 years towards this unique variety.Its uniqueness lies in its texture and sweetness.The new variety of guava resembles an apple in texture and is sweeter and pulpier.Such guavas have never been grown in India ever.

Coordinate for a better tomorrow: Pawar

The minister of agriculture and food processing industries, Sharad Pawar, emphasised on having greater resources for research and committed team-work among scientists and extension professionals to deal with the challenges of food production, malnutrition, poverty, population growth and environment.

Addressing the 82nd Annual General Meeting of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the minister said that research had to generate robust agricultural technologies and innovations that could enhance productivity and incomes while conserving natural resource base for sustainability of the development process.

US to learn from Mumbai's Dabbawalahs?

Apart from the scheduled meetings with India's top space and nuclear energy administrators and corporate honchos, the US commerce secretary, Gary Locke, would also meet the famed Dabbawalas in Mumbai. Locke, who was leading a 24 US businesses on a high tech trade mission on Feb 6-11, would visit the dabbawalahs to learn about the unique logistics operation.

"This lunch delivery service, subject of management studies in the US, has been cited as a model of entrepreneurship and supply-chain management at the grass-roots level," the commerce department noted while announcing its schedule.

Harvard Business School had produced a case study on the exciting story of the 4,500 semi-literate Dabbawalas collecting and delivering over 1,75,000 food packages within hours with an error-free record.

The curious case of Bt Brinjal

India grows eight million tonnes of natural brinjals. In fact, in various parts of north India, brinjal is produced in excess and sometimes most of it is fed to the cows so why should one compromise with their health. As far as anyone can tell, there is no crisis in India’s brinjal production.
Bt brinjal produces a protein in the vegetable cells that induce antibiotic resistance. It may also indicate that old GM technology is being used as the technology has already moved on from antibiotic resistance marker genes.

Talking to Explore Mr. Narayanan, an Agriculturist said "Agriculture is a culture that should receive holistic treatment and not the piecemeal introduction of highly toxic inputs that poison a regions daily food. It is one of the livelihood sectors that would suffer drastically through these unnecessary inputs."

Another shocking review is that there have been no independent tests conducted by the Ministry of Health, considering that this is an important food crop in the country. The entire approval process in the country is being pushed at high speed by the Department of Biotechnology, some bilateral agencies like the USAID and the private biotech industry. This is unacceptable since the primary stakeholders like farmers and consumers and some Ministries like Health are not being involved in these decision-making processes.

Green rice to bring in Green revolution

Rice bred to perform well in the toughest conditions where the poorest farmers grow rice is a step towards reaching farmers thanks to a major project led by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Green Super Rice is actually a mix of more than 250 different potential rice varieties and hybrids variously adapted to difficult growing conditions such as drought and low inputs, including no pesticide and less fertiliser, and with rapid establishment rates to out-compete weeds, thus reducing the need for herbicides. More types of Green Super Rice that combine many of these traits are in the pipeline.
As reported in the latest issue of Rice Today, Green Super Rice is already in the hands of national agricultural agencies in key rice-growing countries for testing and development.

Transformed agriculture-led growth for India

India has a unique and compelling opportunity! Given the spirit of our entrepreneurial farmers, the scientific talent in our agriculture industry and universities, and the second-largest farming acres globally, if we can increase crop yields sustainably, we can achieve food security domestically and be a positive contributor to helping meet the world’s agricultural needs.

The World Bank , the Planning Commission, the National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) have arrived at a broadly similar conclusion that 300 million to 400 million people in India live below the poverty line—meaning they do not have enough to eat and to care for themselves with majority living in rural India and linked to agriculture. At the current prices and rate of inflation, it is anybody’s guess what would be the number of India’s poor.

Sugar production rises up

The country's sugar production was estimated to have risen by 15 % to 8.4 million tonnes as on January 15 in the current crop year.

"Production is about 8.4 million tonnes, 15 % more than what the country had produced in the same period last year," a senior government official said.

The government had estimated total sugar production at 24.5 million tonnes in the ongoing 2010-11 crop year (October-September), against 19 million tonnes in the previous crop year. The country's annual demand of sugar was pegged at 23 million tonnes.  At present, sugar prices in retail market are ruling at Rs 31-33 per kg. In the wake of rising inflation, the government had recently put on hold the export of 5 lakh tonnes of sugar under the Open General Licence scheme.