Bejo Sheetal inks MoU with Michigan State Varsity

Bejo Sheetal Bioscience Foundation (BSBSF), Jalna, Mumbai Education Trust (MET), Mumbai and Michigan State University(MSU), USA have signed MoU on Monday at MET, Mumbai for cooperation in Education, Research and Outreach in areas of mutual interest. The agreement was signed by Shri. Sureshji Agrawal, Chairman BSBSF, Jalna, Mr. Sunil Karve, Vice Chairman & Founder, MET, Mumbai and Dr. Jeff Armstrong (MSU), USA. The dignitaries witnessed for this event were from various Industries and institutes like Mr. Sameer Bhujbal, Board member, MET, Forbes India, IDBI, Bank, Safal Seeds & Biotech Ltd. Green Crops International Pvt. Ltd. etc in presence of core group of students of management at MET, Mumbai. Dr. Jeff Armstrong, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences, MSU, USA stated in his address, this association is important for educating the students for entrepreneurship in Agri biotech and its allied areas like packaging, extension, post harvest technology, biofuel industry etc. This will be the direct or indirect service for quality human resource development of global standard. He also mentioned that this association can be extended to various fields of Agriculture and social aspects. Prof. Karim Maredia, MSU, USA, coordinator of this association expressed the initial tripartite course is an start and such more courses can be formulated in this association which will be helpful for the students of science and Agriculture. In near future, combined degree course, post graduation and Research and extension programs can be undertaken by involving the students of candidates from South African and Central Asian countries. Shri Sureshji Agrawal briefed about the initial activities of this association and explained the details of Post Graduate Certificate course and how candidates will be benefited and get exposed to USA Agriculture systems and Industries in USA. The tripartite course will start at Bejo Sheetal Bioscience Foundation, Initial three months student will be taught about Agribiotech technologies, further MET will teach management studies in Agri biotech, Then students will be sent to Michigan State University in America for getting knowledge of Agri biotech industry along with internship program in some industry. Further Mr. Sunil Karve addressed as important step in the history of MET for extending the association with Seed Industry in India and American University. This association certainly will help to candidate to get practical experience. The program was anchored by Mr. Vijay Page, Director MET, Mumbai and supported by Bejo sheetal Bioscience foundation members Mr. Sameer Agrawal, Mr. Kamal Zunzunwala, Mr. Akshat Zunzunwala, Dr. Mazumdar, Mr. Nandkumar Kunchge and other colleagues.

Rice output may be lower than initial estimates

Last year, the Centre underestimated the country's kharif rice production by overestimating the impact of drought. Thus, in its first advance estimate, the output was assessed at 69.45 million tonnes (mt) that got revised subsequently to 75.91 mt. Much of this was on account of Punjab and Haryana. Both these States ended up harvesting bumper crops despite the drought. While the near-universal irrigation cover available with their farmers was definitely a factor here, the dry weather actually turned out a blessing of sorts: It ensured minimal incidence of attacks by the white-backed plant-hopper and other major pests and diseases. This time, it could be quite the opposite. In its first advance estimate, released in September, the Agriculture Ministry has projected kharif rice production for 2010 to rebound to 80.41 mt on the back of an overall surplus South-West monsoon. But going by mandi arrival trends so far, it looks as though the damage caused by floods in some paddy-growing areas and very little rains in some others has not been fully factored in by the Ministry – leading to a possible overestimation of output. In Punjab, only 122.21 lakh tonnes (lt) of paddy have arrived till now in the various mandis, compared to the 133.14 lt during this time last year. Haryana (24.51 lt versus 27.09 lt) and Uttar Pradesh (4.22 lt versus 6.59 lt), too, have recorded lower arrivals. As a result, total rice procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State agencies in the ongoing 2010-11 marketing year (October-September) has been only 98.01 lt, as against cumulative buys of 106.32 lt during this period of 2009-10. Procurement is trailing in both Punjab (80.75 lt versus 87.42 lt) and Haryana (15.41 lt versus 17.14 lt). Officials ascribe the dip in the two north-western States to lower yields, which, in turn, were an outcome of floods in early-July that damaged large areas where planting of normal high-yielding parmal paddy had already taken place. Since this area could not be re-transplanted with non-basmati (the window for which was already over), farmers had to go in for basmati. And within basmati, they opted for even lower-yielding traditional varieties as opposed to the improved Pusa-1121 or Pusa Basmati-1 that had fetched low prices last year. In addition to this, farmers in Punjab had sown very little area this time under PAU-201, a variety giving 7.5 tonnes of paddy a hectare against 7 tonnes for normal non-basmati varieties. There were quality issues with PAU-201, with FCI refusing to buy on these grounds. As a result, its share in total non-basmati paddy area fell from a fifth to virtually nil and the overall yields, too, dropped, as expressed by a State official. In other States, a clear picture of production trends in other States is yet to emerge. However, the fact that West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and East Uttar Pradesh have recorded deficient monsoon rains does not give much hope for a bumper crop from this region, which is a major paddy belt. The one State that, till recently, was expected to generate a good crop this year because of copious monsoon rains is Andhra Pradesh (AP). But two successive low-pressure build-ups within a week's span have changed it all. The latest floods are estimated to have inundated and destroyed some 3.21 lakh hectares of paddy area. AP estimated out paddy production this year at 84 lt. But now, we may have to contend with 10-15 lt less. While all these could result in a downward revision of the country's estimated rice production this year, it is unlikely, however, to really influence overall availability or prices. The main reason for this is the more-than-comfortable public foodgrain stocks. As on November 1, rice stocks in the Central pool, at 231.73 lt, exceeded the corresponding levels of 216.21 lt and 141.39 lt for the preceding two years.

India’s wheat output may exceed 82 mn tonnes target this year

The country’s wheat production is likely to exceed the target of 82 million tonnes in the 2010-11 rabi season that started from mid-October. It will beat the production target of 82 million tonnes this year, as good rains have boosted soil moisture which improves yield. Timely sowing, good supply of seeds and fertilisers would help increase the productivity of the crop. India, the world’s second largest producer of wheat, had harvested all—time high of 80.71 million tonnes in 2009-10 season. As on November 8, wheat has been planted in over one million hectare, which is almost at par with last year’s level. The wheat acreage is likely to increase as farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have gone for early planting, he said, adding that full-fledged sowing of wheat crop is expected to start in the coming weeks. The country’s total wheat acreage is 28 million hectares. The crop prospects are bright as Agri Ministry expects good winter this year and also hope there won’t be any terminal heat like we had in 2009. Wheat is a rabi crop (winter crop), grown once a year in the country with planting beginning from mid-October and harvest in March-April.

India, US widen scope of farm tie-up with 3 pacts

US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unfurled new signposts in bilateral ties – such as a new security pact, tie-ups in energy, health and agriculture -- at a joint news conference on Mr. Obama’s maiden visit to India. Wherein, the leaders announced new initiatives in agriculture collaboration designed to address two of India's biggest farm worries – food security and crop weather forecast. The President's delegation already consists of USAID administrator Raj Shah and agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack, with both agencies playing a significant role. The showpiece of the collaboration is an Indo-US tie-up to design a more accurate model to predict India's increasingly erratic monsoon. An increasingly truant southwest monsoon remains a big worry for the government, as two-thirds of Indians depend on farm income and 60% of India's farmed areas remain outside its irrigation network. The Singh-Obama initiative will largely build on areas already being worked on. The aim to raise food yields by harnessing joint technologies. Specific deals were signed in the areas of market access, food security and weather forecasting. The widened scope of farm tie-ups have already being hammered outf following an MoU signed between the two countries in March. The spadework for the monsoon mission began in July when Planning Commission member, K Kasturirangan, and secretary in the department of earth sciences, Shailesh Nayak, visited the US National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. The US model should be available to India to work on by December. India has homed in on the US model, called the "Couple Forecasting System", for two reasons. One, it combines both oceanography and atmospherical sciences, unlike the Indian model that relies mainly on the former. Two, scientists feel the US model can be better adapted to Indian conditions. Once access is granted, scientists from the Indian Council for Agricultural Research and Indian Space Research Organisation will team up with NOAA to fine-tune it to suit India's needs. First, it should predict sudden breaks in monsoon cycle fairly accurately and, secondly, enable more short-term and localised predictions, such as district level predictions.

Oilseeds growers set to reap double bonanza

At the start of the kharif season, farmers in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh had talked of cutting their coverage of oilseeds. Higher imports and inventories, too, threatened to affect oilseeds sowing. Then, there was no inkling of the emerging global supply scenario with Russia suffering one of its worst droughts, and La Nina, which brings in bountiful rain, affecting palm oil production in Malaysia. Also, no one had given a thought about the southern States, the worst-affected last year due to drought. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka experienced good rainfall from June, encouraging farmers to go in for early sowing. Thanks to the high prices for oilseeds such as groundnut and sesame, farmers in these States went in for these crops or castor on a largescale. Elsewhere in Madhya Pradesh, farmers still gathered courage to sow soyabean despite high inventories. The end result, oilseeds acreage increased to 175.49 lakh hectares (lh) this kharif against 174.43 lh last year. In turn, the output of nine kharif oilseeds is projected to be 172.7 lakh tonnes (lt) against 156.6 lt last year. Though the acreage has increased only marginally, the weather pattern this year has ensured better yield. Arrivals are yet to pick up in most oilseeds as the harvest has been delayed but the 200 lakh tonnes oilseeds inventories seen at the start of the kharif sowing has been reduced to 5-6 lakh tonnes. Thanks to rising demand for oilmeals, inventories are vanishing fast. Demand for soyameal in particular has increased in South-East Asia and the Far-East following drought in Russia. In October alone, oilmeals exports increased 61 per cent. Soyabean production is likely to be 101 lakh tonnes this year. There have been problems in certain parts of Madhya Pradesh such as Indore, Bhopal and Dhar and Sikaur due to last minute rains. But production in other parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are set to make up. According to the Agriculture Ministry, groundnut production is likely to be higher at 56.4 lt (36.6 lt) and that of soyabean at 98.1 lt (100.5 lt). No major variation is likely in soyabean production. There may be 2-3 per cent change due to the late rain. But it would be over 100 lt. Though domestic edible oil prices have dropped from the highs seen in September, they are still higher than rates that prevailed during the same period a year ago. For example, groundnut oil (loose) is currently ruling at Rs 725 for 10 kg against Rs 635 a year ago. Similarly, soyabean refined oil is ruling at Rs 570/10 kg against Rs 430 a year ago. With global prices for vegetable oils ruling near two-year high, chances of oilseeds farmers getting better prices are bright. In fact, it will be a double bonanza, higher output and higher price for Indian oilseed growers. With domestic prices reflecting global rates, farmers could be assured of good returns, he said. Currently, soyabean is ruling at Rs 2,250 at the mandis, the same as last year. However, in Karnataka groundnut output is expected to fall about 50,000 tonnes short the 6.5 lakh tonnes target. Sunflower output has been pegged at 80,000 tonnes against a target of 2.25 lakh tonnes. Sunflower production is likely to be half of last year since farmers shifted to other crops.

RBI data show decline in credit flow to agriculture

There has been a significant pick up in credit flow to industry, services and personal loan segments during the current financial year. However, credit flow to agriculture has declined further, data released by the Reserve Bank of India as part of Macroeconomic and Monetary Developments Second Quarter Review 2010-11 shows. While credit flow to industry was highest at Rs 1,07,386 crore, credit flow to agriculture contracted by Rs 13,481 crore during the first six months of this fiscal, according to data on sector wise deployment of credit. Though the credit flow to industry has improved, it is not yet broad-based, RBI said. The credit growth is mainly driven by flow of credit to infrastructure, iron and steel, chemicals and chemical products, other metal and metal products and engineering industries. Infrastructure cornered the largest share of credit with Rs 87,499 crore flowing into the sector in the period between April-September 24, as against Rs 48,659 crore in the same period last year. Credit contracted to sectors such as petroleum, coal products and nuclear fuel and the construction industry. In the personal loans segment, there was a pick-up in housing loans with banks lending Rs 16,195 crore in the first six months of this year, substantially higher than Rs 7,891 crore in the corresponding year-ago period. Loans for consumer durables also saw a pick-up in the period under consideration. Education loans saw some slowdown with banks lending Rs 4,060 crore during the year, as against Rs 4,557 crore in the year-ago period. In the services segment, credit to commercial real estate saw a huge jump with banks lending Rs 9,604 crore to the sector. In the same period last year, banks had lent only Rs 1,766 crore to the sector. Credit to transport operators, professional services and non banking finance companies also witnessed an increase. However, credit for trade saw some slowdown this year. Under priority sector lending, banks lent Rs 19,343 crore to micro and small enterprises in the first six months of the year, a small dip from Rs 20,808 crore in the year ago period. According to bank-wise data on credit flow, the momentum in credit growth was seen across all public, foreign and private banks, with private banks showing the highest growth rate at the beginning of the third quarter of 2010-11. While public sector banks lent Rs 4,24,171 crore in the year as on October 8, private banks lent Rs 1,24,213 crore and foreign banks Rs 17,979 crore. Public sector banks accounted for 74 per cent of the incremental credit off take on a year-on year basis as of beginning October 2010, RBI said.

Obama effect: ICAR plans agri campaign

Encouraged by US President Barack Obama's appreciation of its innovations in the field of agriculture, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research plans to launch a campaign to popularise agriculture science in the country. "President Obama spent about five minutes at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research stall during his tour of the Agriculture and Food Security Expo at Mumbai. We feel indebted to the US President for praising innovation in the agriculture sector," ICAR director general S Ayyappan told PTI on the sidelines of a function at the institution on Tuesday. Taking a tour of the Agriculture and Food Security Expo at St Xavier's College in Mumbai on Sunday, Obama had displayed a keen interest in the products on display and asked entrepreneurs to take their 'remarkable' work around the world. The president tried his hands at stripping a corn cob after being inspired by a woman farmer who showcased a small agro tool (maize sheller). "It reduces woman labour by 30 per cent. It is remarkable," he had said. Ayyappan said the ICAR is thinking of gifting a silver corn sheller to Obama through the Indian Embassy in the US as a goodwill gesture. Earlier, speaking at the Annual Day function of the National Agricultural Science Museum, the ICAR DG said taking advantage of Obama's praise of Indian agricultural innovation, the ICAR will soon launch a comprehensive campaign to popularise the subject, especially among the youth. He announced that the ICAR would open branches of the NASM at four places -- Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and somewhere in North-East -- within the next two years to showcase the progress in agriculture over the ages. Former ICAR DG and the ex-Vice Chancellor of Benaras Hindu University, Panjab Singh, suggested starting a national level quiz competition on agriculture along the lines of popular TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati, hosted by mega star Amitabh Bachchan, which he hoped would create interest in the subject. The first of its kind in the country, the NASM was inaugurated by former President APJ Abdul Kalam at the ICAR campus here in November, 2004. The museum exhibits the development of agriculture in India since prehistoric time. Formerly known as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, the ICAR was established in its current form on July 16, 1929. With 97 ICAR institutes and 45 agricultural universities across the country, it is one of the largest national agricultural research organisations in the world.

India bats for endosulfan as world calls for a blanket ban

India's vultures appear to be making a tentative comeback but their killer is very much in circulation and will continue to be. While the global community proposed a ban on the use of endosulfan globally at the Stockholm Convention of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee in Genevalast month, India opposed the move, saying there was not enough evidence to prove the health and environmental impacts of the insecticide. India being the largest producer and user of endosulfan in the world, dependence on this highly toxic insecticide has now led the agriculture ministry to call for a technical review of its impacts on health and ecology. "We have not been in favour of a ban simply because several committees earlier had reviewed the experience with endosulfan and had observed that its use can be continued," said Pankaj Kumar, joint secretary (plant protection) in the department of agriculture and cooperation. "There are fresh developments everyday and fresh evidence is submitted. Before we can agree to a ban, there has to be proper scientific inquiry. The registration committee under the insecticides act has to review the matter and only if endosulfan proves unsafe, it can make a recommendation." The delegation that was also represented by the MoEF is currently documenting key issues of conflict. "India had conflicting views over the use of several chemicals. The use of endosulfan is put on hold in Kerala due to the peculiar health impacts that were seen after aerial spraying in cashew plantations. But in all other states, the approved manner of usage is being followed and there is nothing to worry," Kumar added. Additional director (MoEF) Chhanda Chowdhury, who attended the convention, told TOI that India had been maintaining the same stand for the past four years and there was no question of backing a ban this time around either. This, when member nations of the convention concluded: "Taking into account that a lack of full scientific certainty should not prevent a proposal from proceeding, that endosulfan is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and environmental effects such that global action is warranted..." Environmental activists say a nexus of the government with the insecticide lobby has led to a stern stand not to move away from these toxic insecticides. "There is a lot of public literature in India and globally to prove the impact of POPs like endosulfan. It is only because of a collusion with these companies that the government is ignoring stark disasters, as in Kasargod, where so many are killed and even disabled," said G V Ramanjaneyulu, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture. The Kerala government had, in fact, written to the Centre ahead of the Geneva meet, demanding that it take a stand in support of a ban. Cases of physical deformity, endocrine disruption and impact on reproductive development have been widely reported in Kerala and Dakshin Kannada, in particular. According to the health risks submitted by various members at the Stockholm Convention, endosulfan can be genotoxic ie capable of causing genetic mutation. Assessments conducted by the EU, Canada and US concluded that endosulfan was not carcinogenic but some studies found that exposure to even sub-lethal doses of endosulfan and its metabolites induce DNA damage and mutation. Strangely, endosulfan is still widely used in ecological and biodiversity hotspots, such as the Western Ghats. In the latest meeting of the Western Ghats Ecology Panel, the Central Pollution Control Board ( CPCB) chairman has been asked for a technical report on the implications of the use of endosulfan. "Endosulfan belongs to the organochlorine group of pesticides such as DDT. These remain in the soil for a very long time. Endosulfan is known to cause endocrine disruption and has neuro-toxic impacts. It is only the huge manufacturers' lobby that is stopping the government from taking stringent measures. Also, it is a cost-effective medium which deals with a broad spectrum of pests," said P K Shetty, professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies, who has been conducting field surveys on the use of toxic pesticides and their impact on farmers.

Wal-Mart to target 35,000 Indian farmers for agri-business supply chain by 2015

American retail giant Wal-Mart on Tuesday announced plans for roping in 35,000 farmers into its retail-related activities in the Indian agri-business sector by 2015. "We are already making a contribution to India's agricultural sector by working with a large number of farmers in Punjab. I am pleased to announce that Bharti Wal-Mart would be directly sourcing from 35,000 small and medium farmers by 2015," Wal-Mart Stores Inc President and CEO Mike T Duke said here at a function organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Wal-Mart, in an equal partnership with telecom group Bharti Enterprise, and operates four cash-and-carry outlets in India and also supplies to retail stores run by Bharti. Duke predicted that the rising aspirations of Indian consumers would lead to huge business opportunities. At present, the 50:50 cash and carry joint venture, Bharti Wal-Mart, works with 550 farmers in India. "We will help them by providing skills and technology for crop management. By doing all these, we hope that farmers will see at least a 20 per cent increase in their income levels," Duke said. He said Wal-Mart would also train farmers on utilization of water and fertilizers in an optimal manner, adding that at least a million farmers and farm workers stood to benefit in the long-term.Duke said Wal-Mart could significantly contribute to India's booming markets. "We see the opportunity because of the Indian population, the rise in the aspirations of millions of Indian consumers. They want to live a better life. We believe we can contribute to that," said Duke. "We think, of course, it would be good for our business. We like the Indian economy and the growth prospects...we see for many, many years, this is a great country that is going to have a great opportunity, and we would like to be a part of that," he added. Commenting on the need for upgrading skills in the retail sector, Duke said the current joint venture between Wal-Mart and Bharti would add a third skills training centre in Bangalore soon. Two already exist in Delhi and Amritsar. Bharti Enterprises Vice Chairman and Managing Director Rajan Bharti Mittal said another skill centre would come in Mohali. "The target is to train 40,000 students in the next five years and place at least 15,000 students in the next five years," Duke said. Already 3,400 students have already been certified and 1,100 people have been place in jobs, he added.Union Food Processing Minister Subodh Kant Sahai said that the opening of retail chains such as Wal-Mart would introduce market-driven farming in the country. "This will give the market driven farming to the farmer. This will give a status to the farm produce as a raw material. This will give an opportunity to go for clusterised farming, which is today, fragmented farming. This can happen only when the market intervenes, and the market means the retail market. They are most important because they procure not only for domestic market but also for world market," said Sahai. Wal-Mart has long been courting the Indian government, the private sector and local farmers to win support for removing restrictions from foreign companies and investing in a multi-brand retailing in India. India's retail sector, however, is largely closed to foreign firms and favours small stores, with 51 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) allowed only in single-brand retail. Multi-brand retail is restricted to cash-and-carry or wholesale outlets.xperts believe opening up the retail sector would ease massive supply that has helped keep inflation high. India represents tremendous opportunities to foreign business establishments given the size of the population, expected economic growth, a growing middle class and the lack of a mature and organized retail market. Analysts say opening retail to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) may help create thousands of jobs and rein in food price inflation by curbing waste in a country where at least 40 percent of produce rots because of inadequate storage and transportation. The entry of multinational retailers into India has been mired in controversy, with moves to open up the sector opposed by leftist parties and small traders fearful of job losses.

NABARD likely to fund foreign farm acquisitions

It would not be far away in time when India would look forward to Africa or Georgia for cereals and pulses with NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) likely to fund entrepreneurs who are on the lookout for setting up farming estates abroad. According to NABARD Managing Director, Dr.K.G.Karmarkar NABARD is in the process of concluding an agreement with Israeli Fund, for research and technology transfer in agriculture, wherein the fund will be utilized to promote Indian agri-businesses overseas. He was speaking at seed-industry-bankers workshop organised by Andhra Pradesh Regional Office of NABARD. Earlier Commodityonline had reported Indian government giving approval for the acquisition of farm lands in foreign countries. Pulses and oil seeds would be cultivated in the African continent to meet the rising domestic demands back here in India. NABARD is currently having three funds with a combined outlay of Rs.200 crore --R&D fund, rural innovation fund and farmer technology transfer fund--to promote agricultural activities in India.

CABI India plans to build digital repository on agriculture

Amid poor reach of farm technology from lab to land, CABI India, not-for-profit organisation working on agriculture and environment issues, plans to build a digital repository on agriculture which can be easily accessed to solve farmers' problems. "At present, many innovations of agri-scientists remain unused in the farm lands because the knowledge is incomprehensible by poor and illiterate farmers. To bridge this gap, we are envisaging a project to develop a unified digital repository, which can be used for extension work," CABI India Country Director R K Khetarpal told PTI. The proposed project 'Direct to Farm' will create a repository on agricultural issues repackaged in a simplified form for direct use to farmers in South Asia, he said. Those involved in agriculture -- farmers, extension workers, NGOs and the government -- will benefit from the knowledge bank, he added. Khertarpal said that CABI India, an Indian arm of century old UK-based CABI International, is in talks with IBM, Yes Bank, Gate Foundation, International Fund for Agriculture Development among other organisations for partnership. Sharbendu Banerjee, who is working on the project, said, "Besides CABI's own extensive agri-content, the data from partnering organisations will also be collated to make the repository work successful as extension information." He said that the repository work is likely to start in early 2011 and the data would be delivered via different technologies like mobile and speaking website to farmers. Already, CABI India is providing agri-content service to IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Ltd (IKSL), which delivers voice agro-advisory via mobiles to illiterate farmers

India losing 5,334 million tonnes of soil annually due to erosion: Govt

India is losing 5,334 million tonnes of soil every year due to soil erosion because of indiscreet and excess use of fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides over the years, Parliament was told today. About one millimetre of top soil is being lost each year with a total loss of 5,334 million tonnes annually due to soil erosion, Minister of State for Agriculture K. V. Thomas said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. The rate of loss is 16.4 tonnes per hectare every year, the minister said while quoting from a study conducted by Central Soil Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCRTI), Dehradun. Experiments conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) indicated that non-judicious and imbalanced use of inorganic fertilisers (NPK) over years may result in deterioration of soil fertility/nutrient deficiencies, Mr. Thomas said. On whether wrong irrigation practices were also responsible for this, the minister said excessive use of irrigation water in canal command may lead to secondary salinisation, affecting, thereby, the soil and crop productivity. Detailing about corrective steps taken by the government, he said in order to promote judicious use of chemical fertilisers the government is advocating soil test based balanced and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM). INM relies on conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources of plant nutrients like Farm Yard Manure (FYM), compost, bio-fertilisers and green manuring. The government has launched “National Project on Management of Soil Health & Fertility” during 2008-9 to promote soil test based judicious use of fertilisers for improving soil health and its productivity, Mr. Thomas added. Besides location specific bio-engineering measures developed by the CSWCRTI Dehradun for controlling soil erosion vis-a-vis top soil, the government has launched several programmes during different plan periods including Integrated Wasteland Development Programme and National Watershed Development Programme for rain-fed areas, he said.

FCI to beef up capacity in NE with PDS in mind

The Food Corporation of India is looking to augment its storage capacity in the north-east region to ensure timely supplies for the government’s public distribution system. “Inadequate storage facility in the north-east region creates problems in ensuring regular supplies to the PDS (public distribution system),” Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar told ET. The current storage capacity of the government’s top grain management agency in the north-eastern states is 4.58 lakh tonne, which is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the welfare schemes and also ensure availability of key food items through the year. The ministry of agriculture has, therefore, allowed FCI to hire godowns from private party for 10 years even as it builds its own capacity. The agency plans to lift its grain storage capacity in the region by 5.25 lakh tonnes over the next couple of years at a cost of Rs 568 crore, helping it reduce the year round dependence on transport systems to move grain to this deficit region. The agency already has 77,500 tonne of storage capacity under construction at various places including 50,000 tonne of warehouse facility at Changsari near Guwahati. Most of the north-east India, except Assam, relies heavily on road transport for movement of essential commodities . In the case of Assam 66% of the essential goods are moved by the railways while roads transport about 30 %. Tripura and some parts of Nagaland have some rail connectivity but other states are dependent on roads. Life saving drugs, garments and food grains are brought to these region on trucks. More than 1,000 trucks come to Guwahati everyday from New Delhi, Haryana and West Bengal and nearly 200 trucks make there way from Guwahati to Upper Assam and other areas of the north eastern states. Authorities in the north east have recently begun cracking down on over-loading trucks, following a supreme court directive. Trucks have been carrying 15-20 tonne of load against 9 tonne allowed officially.

India, UAE should work together in agriculture: Prez

President Pratibha Patil exhorted businesses in India and the United Arab Emirates to explore opportunities for cooperation in agriculture and food processing fields. "Agriculture is also a very important field in which you can have cooperation. Food processing is also very important. Think of these new areas," she said deviating from her prepared speech at a function in Sharjah. She was speaking at the inaugural function of the India Trade and Exhibition Centre at which Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah, was also present. Patil said she was privileged to be the first Indian President to make an official visit to the Emirate of Sharjah. Noting that agriculture is the biggest private business in India, she said 40 per cent of farming activity in the country is dryland farming. "We want to green our arid areas. The UAE also wants to go green, so let us work together". In Dubai also, she spoke in similar vein at a function organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. "Immense potential also lies for a mutually beneficial partnership in the energy sector and also in agriculture and food processing sectors. India is a leading producer of fruits, despite this only two per cent of our trade is in this area," the President said. Her remarks on the issue of agriculture comes a day before she is set to visit an institute working in the field of arid and dryland farming during her visit to Syria beginning on Friday. Turning to the trade turnover between India and the UAE which has touched a record $43 billion, she said that 'there are complementaries in our trade relations and hence, there is opportunity to expand the volume of trade considerably in the coming years.' "Equally important is the potential for mutual investments by the two countries. We need to explore every avenue to realise this potential". The UAE, a long standing commercial and business hub in the region, has also emerged as the third major re-export centre in the world after Singapore and Hong Kong. She hoped that the India Trade and Exhibition Centre would help able to meet the needs of the Small and Medium enterprises and other trade bodies. V R S Natrajan, leader of the Indian business delegation, said that there were huge opportunities for bilateral cooperation in various fields including oil and chemicals, infrastructure, especially construction, railways, metro projects and freight transport.

PAU plans national, international programmes

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has planned a number of international and national programmes during the start of 2011. The Crop Improvement Society, with its headquarters at PAU, will be organizing an international conference 'Preparing agriculture for climatic change' from February 6-8 wherein top ranking scientists from various parts of the world will be participating to discuss the impact of climate change on agriculture and to prepare for success of agriculture. The College of Home Science, PAU, will hold the biennial workshop of All India Coordinated Research Project during February 16-17 wherein the research programmes and progress made at different centres will be discussed and technical programmes for future will be identified. The PAU will organize 'Honey festival-cum-experience exchange workshop' on prospects and promotion of apiculture for augmenting hive and crop productivity during February 22-24. The programme has been sponsored by National Horticulture Mission (NHM). The honey mela will be held in the PAU open-air-theatre while honey exhibition and experience-exchange workshop will be held in Kisan Mela ground and Pal Auditorium, respectively. The PAU is gearing up for holding these events.

India bats for endosulfan as world calls for a blanket ban

India's vultures appear to be making a tentative comeback but their killer is very much in circulation and will continue to be. While the global community proposed a ban on the use of endosulfan globally at the Stockholm Convention of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee in Genevalast month, India opposed the move, saying there was not enough evidence to prove the health and environmental impacts of the insecticide. India being the largest producer and user of endosulfan in the world, dependence on this highly toxic insecticide has now led the agriculture ministry to call for a technical review of its impacts on health and ecology. "We have not been in favour of a ban simply because several committees earlier had reviewed the experience with endosulfan and had observed that its use can be continued," said Pankaj Kumar, joint secretary (plant protection) in the department of agriculture and cooperation. "There are fresh developments everyday and fresh evidence is submitted. Before we can agree to a ban, there has to be proper scientific inquiry. The registration committee under the insecticides act has to review the matter and only if endosulfan proves unsafe, it can make a recommendation." The delegation that was also represented by the MoEF is currently documenting key issues of conflict. "India had conflicting views over the use of several chemicals. The use of endosulfan is put on hold in Kerala due to the peculiar health impacts that were seen after aerial spraying in cashew plantations. But in all other states, the approved manner of usage is being followed and there is nothing to worry," Kumar added. Additional director (MoEF) Chhanda Chowdhury, who attended the convention, told TOI that India had been maintaining the same stand for the past four years and there was no question of backing a ban this time around either. This, when member nations of the convention concluded: "Taking into account that a lack of full scientific certainty should not prevent a proposal from proceeding, that endosulfan is likely, as a result of its long-range environmental transport, to lead to significant adverse human health and environmental effects such that global action is warranted..." Environmental activists say a nexus of the government with the insecticide lobby has led to a stern stand not to move away from these toxic insecticides. "There is a lot of public literature in India and globally to prove the impact of POPs like endosulfan. It is only because of a collusion with these companies that the government is ignoring stark disasters, as in Kasargod, where so many are killed and even disabled," said G V Ramanjaneyulu, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture. The Kerala government had, in fact, written to the Centre ahead of the Geneva meet, demanding that it take a stand in support of a ban. Cases of physical deformity, endocrine disruption and impact on reproductive development have been widely reported in Kerala and Dakshin Kannada, in particular. According to the health risks submitted by various members at the Stockholm Convention, endosulfan can be genotoxic ie capable of causing genetic mutation. Assessments conducted by the EU, Canada and US concluded that endosulfan was not carcinogenic but some studies found that exposure to even sub-lethal doses of endosulfan and its metabolites induce DNA damage and mutation. Strangely, endosulfan is still widely used in ecological and biodiversity hotspots, such as the Western Ghats. In the latest meeting of the Western Ghats Ecology Panel, the Central Pollution Control Board ( CPCB) chairman has been asked for a technical report on the implications of the use of endosulfan. "Endosulfan belongs to the organochlorine group of pesticides such as DDT. These remain in the soil for a very long time. Endosulfan is known to cause endocrine disruption and has neuro-toxic impacts. It is only the huge manufacturers' lobby that is stopping the government from taking stringent measures. Also, it is a cost-effective medium which deals with a broad spectrum of pests," said P K Shetty, professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies, who has been conducting field surveys on the use of toxic pesticides and their impact on farmers.

New Zealand dairy giant to establish farm in India

New Zealand's Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, the world's biggest dairy exporter, signed a joint venture agreement Friday to look into establishing a dairy farm in India. Fonterra's partners in the new project are the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative (IFFCO), which includes more than 50 million farmers in 39,500 co-operatives, and Global Dairy Health, India, an organisation set up to develop a global franchise of dairy farms and improve milk quality in Asia and Africa. They signed an agreement to jointly conduct a feasibility study into a pilot dairy farm in India "as a first step towards the vision of establishing large-scale world-class dairy farms in India," the statement said. Fronterra chief executive Andrew Ferrier said a pilot farm could have 3,000 to 5,000 cows and be similar to one it set up in China in 2007.

Deepak fertilisers seeks technical help from global players

With customised fertilisers gradually becoming a major factor in Indian agriculture, Pune-based Deepak Fertilisers is firming up its plans for a foray into the sector. The company is in the last stages of technology tie-up for quality control with a global player in customised fertilisers and plans to close the deal by year end. “In customised fertlisers, what we have learnt is that the control mechanism for quality has to be top class, so before foraying into the segment, we plan to rope in the technology for it,” said Shaiesh Mehta, managing director, Deepak Fertilisers adding that it is at the last leg of technology selection and will finalise the same by Decemeber 2010. Customised fertiliser essentially stands for a special type of fertiliser custom made for a particular region. The first step involves a study of the soil content and its nutrient mix wherein a team of agriculturists from the corporate sector and academicians from agriculture universities determine what is the region’s soil best suited to grow crops and what are the nutrients that are actually missing in the soil. Based on the study, the company manufactures fertilisers with those nutrients which are required in the soil and yield improvements can be done independently of other regions. “We have been working on this for the last three years in collaboration with some agriculture universities and now we are ready to launch,” Mehta said. Due to the customised nature, the size of the plants are small but they require very high standard of quality and this is what the foreign partners will bring in to the company, he said. The company is planning to set up units in phases with the first phase to be completed in the next two to three years. “It will take 18 to 24 months to set up one customised fertiliser facility and we will finalise plans for the first phase by the end of this calendar year,” Mehta said. Salil Garg, fertiliser researcher with Fitch Ratings, said that sooner or later almost all big players in the fertiliser industry will get into customised fertilisers as the current subsidy regime encourages nutrient-based subsidy.

Mahindra institutes India Agri Awards 2011

The Farm Equipment Sector of Mahindra & Mahindra, Ltd. (M&M), one of the world’s top tractor brands and the market leader in the Indian tractor industry, today announced the launch of the Mahindra Samriddhi India Agri Awards 2011. These awards will recognize contributions by individuals and organizations towards the development of Indian agriculture, thereby enhancing rural prosperity. This initiative is an extension of the company’s Mahindra Samriddhi venture which aims to enhance agricultural productivity through creative farming technologies, thereby leading to an increase in rural prosperity. As part of this concept, several Mahindra dealerships have been transformed into Samriddhi Centres offering the farmer easy access to technological know-how, hybrid seeds, soil and water testing facilities, demo farms, finance and insurance, internet updates and sales and servicing of tractors and implements. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Pawan Goenka, President – Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said, “Today we are delighted at the launch of the Mahindra Samriddhi India Agri Awards. These awards are a part of our overall focus on delivering farm prosperity through our involvement in various links to the agri-value chain and help the farmers maximise the value they create. Our 96 Samriddhi centers are already making a small contribution towards this larger goal.” Dr. Goenka further added, “In our endeavour to propel agricultural productivity, these set of awards will recognize the efforts of individuals and organizations who have strived to achieve agri prosperity. We have always played a pioneering role in developments within the agricultural sector in India. Going ahead, we will continue to create higher benchmarks for the agricultural community, under the aegis of Mahindra Samriddhi.” Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector will reach out to prospective applicants through its wide network of Mahindra dealerships which are spread across the country. The Mahindra Samriddhi India Agri leadership awards 2010 will be presented in the following six categories:

Mahindra Samriddhi Farmer of the Year Award (Male)
Recognition for Farmers who have been instrumental in driving innovation by leveraging modern technology in agriculture, thus changing the agriculture scenario in their region
2. Mahindra Samriddhi Farmer of the Year Award (Lady)
Recognition for lady farmers who have broken established stereotypes, to be instrumental in driving innovation by leveraging modern technology in agriculture, thus changing the agriculture scenario in their region
3. Mahindra Samriddhi Krishi Sansthan Samman
Recognition for Public Sector organizations committed to a broad policy on agriculture that has become instrumental in changing the lives of hundreds of farmers
4. Mahindra Samriddhi Krishi Shiksha Samman
Recognition for Agriculture Universities who have made a noteworthy contribution in the field of agriculture, impacting the lives of Indian farmers
5. Mahindra Samriddhi Krishi Sahyog Samman (NGOs /SHGs working in field of Agriculture)
Recognition for NGOs / SHGs for purposeful contributions in the field of agriculture, thus impacting the lives of farmers
6. Mahindra Samriddhi Krishi Shiromani Samman (Lifetime Achievement)
Recognition for lifetime achievement in the field of Agriculture; presented to a renowned personality in the agri space whose contribution is recognized at national and international levels

India steps up agro-diplomacy in Nepal

New Delhi is stepping up its agro-diplomacy in Nepal's Terai plains, known as the "food bowl" of the country, pledging more than NRS 300 million for the construction of over 3,000 shallow tubewells for better irrigation. As part of the Indian government's economic cooperation projects in Nepal, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and the Nepali finance ministry have already signed a memorandum of understanding to erect 1,000 tubewells in the two Terai districts of Mahottari and Dhanusha. Now, talks are on to sign two more MoUs that will cover 10 additional Terai districts. Besides 350 tubewells in Siraha, India will fund 2,700 more in nine southern districts. The new drive follows an earlier Indian assistance that led to the construction of 7,700 tubewells in 22 Terai districts. The aid comes as Nepal faces food scarcity due to a late monsoon and unpredictable rainfall. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives was reported as saying by Chinese news agency Xinhua that this year's national paddy and maize harvests have decreased by 11 and 4 percent respectively compared with last year's yield. Agriculture, the main source of livelihood for over three-quarters of Nepal's 28 million population, has been badly hit by the decade-long Maoist insurgency that destroyed rural infrastructure, disrupted storage, transportation and market access, and affected livestock production and animal health services. In the last three years alone, Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, saw an additional five million people fall below the poverty line due to high food prices and poor harvests. Bad crops in the Terai also mean greater migration of work forces to India across the border. The Forest and Agriculture Organisation of the UN estimates that currently, 3.4 million Nepalis face food insecurity. More than 50 percent of Nepal's 75 districts are food-deficit and nearly 28,000 children under the age of five die annually from easily preventable illnesses. "Farmers have difficulty in accessing basic agricultural inputs due to their high costs, limited local seed production capacity and poor road networks," the FAO said. "The lack of quality seeds, fertilisers and agricultural machinery results in an average per hectare yield of rice, wheat, maize and pulses - Nepal's staple crops - that is notably lower than that of neighbouring countries." The crisis has been aggravated by an ongoing political instability that hit the state's investment powers, limited at the best of times, and exports, while continued strikes have affected the delivery of humanitarian assistance. However, the former Maoist guerrillas have been critical of India's economic cooperation, which means projects are funded directly by India in collaboration with local agencies in Nepal, saying it disturbed the balance in Nepal's relations with India and China since all China-aided projects are implemented solely through government agencies.

Lok Sabha speaker pitches for land to tillers

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Wednesday said that the "revolutionary" target of land to the tillers should be pursued honestly to sustain the interests of farm labourers and increase the agricultural productivity of India. "Agricultural labourer is the real farmer. With their hard work, we are able to grow crops but they do not have lands. 'Land to the tillers' revolutionary target should not fade away. This should be achieved honestly. We should continue to make honest efforts to achieve it," Meira Kumar said. She was addressing the centenary celebration and sixth convocation of Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences in Allahabad. The speaker stressed said that if no steps are taken for the betterment of landless farmers and agricultural workers, "their interest in agriculture will decrease and our dream to double agricultural production will not be realised". Meira Kumar said India's agricultural scientists and technologists need to work in the direction of doubling the productivity of arable land. "The type of technology needed for good productivity of food grain is plant biotechnology. This technology has tremendous potential to enhance agriculture yield by using seeds that are automatically resistant to pests and other abiotic stress such as drought and salinity," she emphasised. Underlining the need for networking research, the speaker said that there has to be a link among different development partners, the users, the implementers and the experts of new agricultural technology for achieving effective and multi-dimensional success.

WB comes to farmers’ aid with Rs 450-cr loan

For generations, a majority of Vidarbha’s debt-ridden farmers have only grown cotton, making themselves vulnerable to unreliable market conditions. Now, these and other districts facing an agrarian crisis, as well as the rest of the state’s agriculture community may have some reason to smile. Rs 643 crore will be pumped into the state for the farmers, with the government going ahead with its ambitious Maharashtra Competitive Agriculture Project (MACP). On Tuesday, the state government signed a loan agreement with the World Bank for Rs 450 crore to fund the project. It aims at enhancing productivity, profitability and market access of the farming community. The signatories to the credit agreement were Venu Rajamony, joint secretary, on behalf of the Government of India, Dr Sudhir Kumar Goel, principal secretary (co-operation and marketing), Government of Maharashtra and Roberto Zagha, country director, World Bank, India. The project will strengthen the existing 906 market yards and will also promote alternate marketing platforms like rural haats and contract farming. Around Rs 300 crore is likely to be invested for this. The project will aim at removing lacunae in agriculture marketing and invest in storage facilities and warehouses. Farmers will also be able to access accurate information on prevalent food prices, buyer’s demands, alternative markets and pesticides through a network of common service centres. This network will be available throughout the 33 districts of the state. It will also promote diversified farm production, disseminate agricultural technologies and empower farmers to better understand, adapt and actively seek out and access existing and alternative markets. Under the project 200 milk co-operatives as well as 100 fish marketing centres will be set up. Around Rs 80 crore is earmarked for fisheries and dairy development. The biggest concerns for state agriculture, that has nearly 30 million hectares under cultivation, is poor marketing infrastructure and diversification of crops and allied agriculture activities. MACP hopes to bridge these concerns.

RBI data show decline in credit flow to agriculture

There has been a significant pick up in credit flow to industry, services and personal loan segments during the current financial year. However, credit flow to agriculture has declined further, data released by the Reserve Bank of India as part of Macroeconomic and Monetary Developments Second Quarter Review 2010-11 shows. While credit flow to industry was highest at Rs 1,07,386 crore, credit flow to agriculture contracted by Rs 13,481 crore during the first six months of this fiscal, according to data on sector wise deployment of credit. Though the credit flow to industry has improved, it is not yet broad-based, RBI said. The credit growth is mainly driven by flow of credit to infrastructure, iron and steel, chemicals and chemical products, other metal and metal products and engineering industries. Infrastructure cornered the largest share of credit with Rs 87,499 crore flowing into the sector in the period between April-September 24, as against Rs 48,659 crore in the same period last year. Credit contracted to sectors such as petroleum, coal products and nuclear fuel and the construction industry. In the personal loans segment, there was a pick-up in housing loans with banks lending Rs 16,195 crore in the first six months of this year, substantially higher than Rs 7,891 crore in the corresponding year-ago period. Loans for consumer durables also saw a pick-up in the period under consideration. Education loans saw some slowdown with banks lending Rs 4,060 crore during the year, as against Rs 4,557 crore in the year-ago period. In the services segment, credit to commercial real estate saw a huge jump with banks lending Rs 9,604 crore to the sector. In the same period last year, banks had lent only Rs 1,766 crore to the sector. Credit to transport operators, professional services and non banking finance companies also witnessed an increase. However, credit for trade saw some slowdown this year. Under priority sector lending, banks lent Rs 19,343 crore to micro and small enterprises in the first six months of the year, a small dip from Rs 20,808 crore in the year ago period. According to bank-wise data on credit flow, the momentum in credit growth was seen across all public, foreign and private banks, with private banks showing the highest growth rate at the beginning of the third quarter of 2010-11. While public sector banks lent Rs 4,24,171 crore in the year as on October 8, private banks lent Rs 1,24,213 crore and foreign banks Rs 17,979 crore. Public sector banks accounted for 74 per cent of the incremental credit off take on a year-on year basis as of beginning October 2010, RBI said.