Pest Database for Seeds Launched by ASTA: Pest database for seeds (PeDS) developed by ASTA is now live and functional for searching for pest or host and scientific or common names. This database contains technical/scientific information on over 400 pests that have impacted the international movement of seeds. The database can be searched for pest/host species. ASTA has developed the database through funding from USDA's Market Access Program.
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Country's first Grain ATM installed in Haryana : The government of Haryana has set up a pilot project, and the ATM can dispense up to 70 kg of grains within 5 to 7 minutes at a time. The machine named Annapurti was set up at Farrukhnagar in Gurugram and is aimed at easing up the process of dispensing grains at ration shops and make the distribution of grains hassle-free.
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Agritech Challenge 2021 launched by UNCDF : Agritech Challenge 2021, launched by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission - NITI Aayog, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Rabo Foundation, aims to help smallholder farmers across Asia and Africa. This challenge will also enable cross-border collaborations among emerging markets across India, Indonesia, Malawi, Malaysia, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.
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Digital platform Kisan Sarathi for farmers launched by ICAR: Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) launched 'Kisan Sarathi,' a digital platform to facilitate farmers to get the right information at the right time in their desired language. Farmers can interact and avail personalized advisories on agriculture and allied areas directly from the respective scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs). These nodal centers ensure growers benefit from research and technology.
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MCCIA and NABARD formally inaugurates India's first Agriculture Export Facilitation Centre in Pune : The Agriculture Export Facilitation Centre (AEFC) aims to enhance Maharashtra's agricultural and food exports by disseminating need-based information, providing timely guidance, and organizing training courses to all stakeholders. The center will serve as a one-stop destination to provide all possible assistance and cater to the needs of farmers, FPOs, and MSMEs in agri-food processing in various stages involved in exporting products.
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Project signed with Water Resources Group to promote sustainable rice cultivation in UP- Corteva : Corteva Agriscience has signed a three-year project with the World Bank Group's Water Resources Group (2030 WRG) to promote sustainable rice farming on 40,000 acres in Uttar Pradesh. The project aims to promote sustainable livelihood in agriculture and build farmers' capacity on the DSR technique of rice cultivation through various training programs, field demonstration sessions, market linkages, market-based sustainability financing, and agronomy assistance.
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Indian Agritech Ecosystem is expected to grow to $30 billion-$35 billion market by 2025.: India is home to more than 500 Agritech start-ups and has experienced a significant investment pool of more than $1 billion till date. According to Bain & Company report, the Indian agri-tech segment is expected to create value pool of $30-$35 billion by 2025. Transparency and resilience are two main transformation across Agri-Food value chain that Agritech start-up can bring in Indian agriculture.
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South-Asian nations create platform to strengthen agromet advisory services : The formation of South Asian Forum on Agricultural Meteorology (Safoam) is expected to boost operational agrometeorological advisory services across South Asia. It will assist countries to derive strategies in mitigating challenges faced due to erratic climate and weather conditions.
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Expert committee set-up to evaluate proposal to ban 27 pesticides : Indian government has appointed an expert committee to sceintifically scrutinize the proposed draft ban of 27 generic pesticide that was issued in May,2020 by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare. There has been constant opposition from Pesticide Industry body PMFAI who claims that the ban can result into a total market loss of Rs.6,000 crore of which Rs 4,000 crore are domestic sales and Rs 2,000 crore exports.
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RNA engineering exhibits potential to create 50% more yield of potatoes and rice crops: A new research led by University of Chicago, Peking University and Guizhou University showed that adding a gene coding protein (FTO) to both rice and potato plants can increase their yield by 50% in field tests. The plant also exhibits significantly longer root systems and drought stress tolerance.
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