Page 18 - Agriculture

Agri firm Samunnati gets Rs 133 cr debt funding from Swiss firm Blue Earth

Agriculture value chain enabler Samunnati on Friday said it has raised Rs 133 crore (USD 16 million) in credit financing from Swiss impact investment firm Blue Earth Capital. This is Blue Earth Capital's first debt investment and will help Samunnati expand initiatives aimed at improving the lives of small farmers across the country through projects focused on climate adaptation, resilience and mitigation practices. The funding from Blue Earth is the single largest debt tranche raised by Samunnati during the first quarter of the fiscal year. "We're grateful for the support from Blue Earth Capital... This boost will strengthen our efforts to improve the lives of smallholders through climate and sustainability projects," Samunnati founder and chief executive Anil Kumar SG said in a statement. In the current fiscal year, Samunnati has already secured USD 5 million (Rs 41 crore) in debt funding through external commercial borrowing from Enabling Qapital. In the previous fiscal year, it

Low agri growth, rural discontent to keep Shivraj Singh Chouhan occupied

On Monday, the 65-year-old Shivraj Singh Chouhan was given the charge of the rural development ministry and the agriculture ministry

Nabard may raise Rs 30,000 crore through bonds in FY25, says CRISIL

The money raised through the market covering bonds and money market instruments had about 51.5 per cent share in total borrowings by Nabard at the end of March 2024

Modi 3.0: Agri reforms, food inflation key challenges for new govt

Increased production of pulses, oilseeds, and cereals will help boost domestic supplies and contribute to keeping inflation low in the coming months

Will send 1K students to China for agriculture training: Pakistan PM Sharif

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced sending as many as 1,000 students of the country to China for advanced training in the agriculture sector as it strives to increase output, according to a media report on Sunday. The premier, who concluded his five-day official visit to China, made the announcement during a visit to Yangling Agricultural Demonstration Base in Xi'an city on Saturday, Radio Pakistan reported. The 72-year-old also invited China's North West Agriculture and Forestry University to open a campus in Pakistan. He directed the Pakistan ambassador to China and relevant authorities to finalise the matters with the Chinese authorities in this regard, Geo News reported. The prime minister toured various parts of the facility and was shown Pakistani products at the Pakistan Pavilion, the report said. Sharif also visited the modern plant production factory where he oversaw a demonstration of the vertical method of agriculture, it said. Pakistan is striving to

Will Centre succumb to pressure of rising prices and allow wheat import?

A drop in state procurement has fuelled the buzz about impending imports. Will that really be necessary?

Govt revises upwards wheat output to record 112.92 mn tonne for 2023-24

The government has revised upwards wheat production at record 112.92 million tonne for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June) in its third estimate. The output, which has been revised upwards by 0.91 million tonne from the second estimate, is also higher than the previous record high of 110.55 million tonne achieved in the 2022-23 crop year, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday. Wheat, the main rabi (winter) crop, has been harvested and over 26 million tonne has already been procured by the central government at minimum support price. In its third estimate, the agriculture ministry has projected increase in rice output to 136.7 million tonne for 2023-24 from 135.75 million tonne in the previous crop year. However, the total foodgrain output is estimated slightly lower at 328.85 million tonne as compared to the level achieved in 2022-23 but higher by 21.1 million tonne from the last five years' average of 307.75 million tonne. Among pulses, tur output is pegged higher at 3.38 millio

Garuda Aerospace aims to sell 50,000 agri, consumer drones in coming years

Drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace Pvt Ltd has inaugurated its first exclusive drone showroom in the city as it plans to sell 50,000 agricultural and consumer drones in the next few years. The city-based company, backed by cricket legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has served over 750 clients across the country. In a statement on Tuesday, the company said it has received the Directorate General of Civil Aviation approval for manufacturing of small and medium drones. "We pride ourselves on the impactful intelligence our drone solutions have to offer. We have 750 + satisfied clients all around India with 350 finished projects and 50 designed works. Our team includes 200 plus employees, with a group of advisory board members, expertise heads for various departments, and well-versed pilots," company CEO Agnishwar Jayaprakash said in the statement. "Garuda Aerospace has sold 2,500 drones so far, out of which 2,000 are agri drones. We plan to sell 25,000 agri-drones in the next two years and

India's sugar consumption might touch 30 million tonnes next season

India's annual sugar consumption growth rate of 2.2 per cent is significantly higher than the world average which is closer to 1 per cent

Uttar Pradesh govt eyes rural economy push through agri-tourism sector

The supplementary aspects of agri-tourism such as horticulture, apiculture, floriculture, and perfumery give a fillip to the rural economy

The debate: Have the paddy planting laws fulfilled their purpose?

The debate becomes relevant in the light of a recent paper by ICAR's NAIP, which says over-extraction of groundwater has continued in spite of the two Acts

FAO highlights potential of AI revolution in transforming agrifood system

Artificial Intelligence is not just a technological shift but is driving a fundamental economic and social transformation at the broadest level, Qu said, noting that FAO recognises its power

Tackle depleting ground water, low investment in research in 'Amritkaal'

The country needs to do more innovations and bring the power of scale to small and marginal farmers

Research bodies call for slashing CCEs to hasten farm yield estimates

Studies are being done on how number of CCEs could be lowered without compromising on accuracy, credibility

Two govt insurance schemes for fisherfolk to be merged from June

Coverage of Rs 2 lakh was offered under PMSBY while a coverage of Rs 5 lakh was offered under GAIS

India likely to export almost 18 million tonnes of rice in 2024-25: USDA

Supplies increase year to year on record production at 527.6 million tons that more than offsets lower beginning stocks

Eyes on Earth: Data helps farming and industry

Earth observation data can drive $3.8 trn in economic benefits while supporting climate change initiatives

Uttar Pradesh govt plans to promote agri startups, introduce AI in farming

The Yogi Adityanath government is also planning to host a global farmers' summit 'Krishi Bharat' in November 2024 in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry

Every rupee invested in agri research yields Rs 13.85, says study

After research comes agriculture extension activities which give the second best return on investment at 7.40 rupees for every one rupee invested

Govt to conduct digital crop survey across India using AI to assess acreage

The initiative will assist in developing more accurate farm production forecasts, and facilitating timely implementation of suitable trade policy measures