Boosting Medicinal Plant Farming: Govt & Industry Join Hands to Help Farmers

A recent Stakeholder Consultation in New Delhi focused on boosting India's medicinal plant sector through collaboration, regional clusters, and industry partnerships. Officials emphasized the need for policy support, dedicated markets, and financial incentives to empower farmers and foster sector growth.

Key discussions included:

• Mission-mode program for medicinal plant cultivation, identifying best practices and efficient techniques.
• Industry-farmer partnerships to ensure stable markets and fair pricing.
• Region-specific clusters for medicinal plants to streamline production and marketing.
• Expansion of AYUSH sector, which has grown eightfold in the past decade, highlighting export potential.

The consultation underscored the economic opportunities in medicinal plant cultivation, particularly in light of rising global demand for natural and holistic healthcare products.

In his opening remarks, Shri. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, highlighted that there is a scope to increase domestic production of medicinal plants as inter-state trade and export of medicinal plants. He highlighted the need for better convergence between Ministry of AYUSH and Agriculture departments and collaboration with State Medicinal Plant Boards, to promote medicinal plants at national level. He also mentioned that important medicinal plants have been included under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme, DA&FW. He stressed that there is a need for a mission-mode program for medicinal plant cultivation, identifying good practices of cultivation, efficient techniques, etc., which will help in the upliftment of the sector.

Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH highlighted that there is a huge possibility of growth in the sector. The AYUSH manufacturing sector has grown by 8 times in the last 10 years and has vast export potential. The sector has enormous economic opportunities, and especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for AYUSH products including medicinal plants has grown immensely.

Breakthrough: Newly Discovered Algae Might Cut Fertilizer Use Forever

Imagine plants are like hungry children who need a special ingredient—nitrogen—to grow strong. Normally, they get it from fertilizers, which farmers add to the soil. But scientists just found a tiny algae in the ocean that can make its own nitrogen, without needing fertilizer!

This algae has a tiny helper inside it called a nitroplast—kind of like a built-in kitchen where it cooks up nitrogen from the air. This is a big deal because, until now, scientists thought only bacteria could do this trick.

Why does this matter? Well, if we can use this discovery to engineer crops that do the same, farmers may no longer need to use as many fertilizers. That means cheaper farming, less pollution, and healthier soils—all thanks to this little ocean algae working its magic.

To an uninitiated, the Nitrogen fixation is the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into a biologically usable form, such as ammonia (NH₃). Even though nitrogen makes up about 78% of Earth's atmosphere, plants can't absorb it directly. Instead, they rely on nitrogen-fixing organisms—like bacteria in soil or, as recent research suggests, certain algae—to transform nitrogen into compounds they can use for growth.

This process is crucial because nitrogen is a key nutrient for plants, directly influencing their ability to produce proteins, enzymes, and chlorophyll. Without nitrogen fixation, ecosystems would struggle to sustain life, and farmers would be far more dependent on synthetic fertilizers, which can contribute to environmental issues like soil degradation and water pollution.

In a latest this month, researchers have discovered a marine alga, Braarudosphaera bigelowii, that can fix nitrogen thanks to a newly identified organelle called a nitroplast. This is groundbreaking because, until now, nitrogen fixation was thought to be exclusive to bacteria and archaea.

 

Braarudosphaera

The nitroplast evolved from a symbiotic bacterium that started living inside the alga about 100 million years ago. Over time, it became an integral part of the algal cell, allowing it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia-a process crucial for plant growth.

Over time, this bacterium became an integral part of the algal cell, functioning as an organelle rather than a separate organism. The nitroplast converts atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃), a crucial nutrient for plant growth.

How It Was Identified

Researchers used soft X-ray tomography to observe the nitroplast’s behavior during cell division, confirming that it divides in sync with other organelles.

Genetic analysis revealed that the nitroplast relies on proteins from the host alga, further supporting its classification as an organelle rather than a free-living symbiont.

This discovery could pave the way for genetically engineered crops that require little to no fertilizer, reducing environmental impact and agricultural costs.

The discovery of nitrogen-fixing algae opens up exciting possibilities—potentially reducing the need for artificial fertilizers while promoting sustainable agriculture.

India’s Seaweed Sector Estimated ₹200 Cr in 2022, Could Surge to ₹3,277 Cr Within the Next 10 Years: Report

• Seaweed farming could yield up to ₹13.28 lakh per hectare annually for farmers.
• Urgent development of seed banks, processing units, and streamlined policies is recommended to support industry growth.
• Industry experts highlight the vast potential of regions like Lakshadweep for high seaweed production efficiency.
• Initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana are in place to promote seaweed farming, aiding over 4,00,000 families.

Primus Partners has released a comprehensive report titled “Seaweed Farming can touch a million lives”, highlighting the immense potential of seaweed farming to transform India’s coastal economy. The report projects that India’s seaweed sector, currently valued at ₹200 crore, could surge to ₹3,277 crore within the next decade, positively impacting 1.6 million lives and creating sustainable livelihoods for 4,00,000 families.

India’s vast coastline, spanning states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and regions such as Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, offers untapped opportunities for large-scale seaweed farming. With rising demand across industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agriculture, seaweed farming is poised to become a key driver of India’s blue economy.

However, despite its potential, India currently contributes less than 1% to global seaweed production. The report identifies key challenges, including inconsistent seed quality, logistical bottlenecks, and limited market linkages, which hinder the sector’s growth.

Key Insights from the Report:

Economic Impact: Seaweed farming could generate significant revenue, with farmers earning up to ₹13.28 lakh per hectare annually from high-value species like Kappaphycus alvarezii.

Challenges for Buyers: Buyers face issues such as inconsistent supply, poor logistics, and lack of contract farming policies, leading to a reliance on imported seaweed.

Farmer Challenges: Coastal farmers struggle with low awareness of farming techniques, environmental risks, and weak market linkages, limiting their adoption of seaweed farming.

Government Initiatives

The Indian government has taken several steps to promote seaweed farming, including budget allocations under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and initiatives to provide Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) and Mudra Loans to farmers. However, the report emphasizes the need for a concrete roadmap focusing on:

• Infrastructure Development: Establishing onshore and offshore seed banks, micropropagation facilities, and processing units near cultivation hubs.
• Policy Support: Streamlining land leasing and contract farming policies to ensure stable incomes for farmers and reliable supply chains for buyers.
• Market Access: Encouraging private investments through fiscal incentives and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to strengthen the seaweed value chain.

Dr. Stefan Kraan, Chief Scientific Officer of TSC-Purple Pvt. Ltd., Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, highlighted the extraordinary potential of Lakshadweep, where seaweed production per unit of seeds has reached up to 15X in some regions.

Mr. Abhiram Seth, Managing Director of Aquaagri Processing Pvt. Ltd., emphasized the need to resolve concerns around Kappaphycus, stating, “If the perception issue of Kappaphycus can be solved, seaweed farming can provide livelihood to a million lives.”

Ramakrishnan M, MD, Primus Partners, Author of this report, commented, "Seaweed farming represents a tidal shift in sustainable agriculture, promising not only to bolster India's blue economy but to fundamentally transform coastal livelihoods. By embracing this untapped resource, we are paving a path towards economic resilience and environmental stewardship for millions.”

The report calls for collaborative efforts between the government, private sector, and coastal communities to unlock the full potential of seaweed farming. By addressing challenges and implementing the recommended strategies, India can position itself as a global leader in the seaweed industry, driving sustainable economic growth and empowering coastal communities.

About Primus Partners Pvt Ltd

Primus Partners Pvt Ltd is a leading management consulting firm based in New Delhi, with offices across India and a growing presence in the UAE. Specializing in sectors such as technology, public policy, and impact advisory, Primus Partners provides innovative solutions to drive sustainable growth for both public and private sector clients. With its expertise in Idea Realisation and sectoral leadership, the firm is at the forefront of consulting in India’s rapidly evolving economy.

A Personalized Virtual Tractor Drive – a Unique Initiative by Mahindra Tractors

In continuation with celebrating 60 years of Mahindra Tractors, India’s No. 1 tractor brand launched a unique virtual tractor drive experience for customers to generate a realistic, life like personalized video of themselves driving a Mahindra Tractor.

Following the unveil of 'Desh ka Tractor: ‘Mitti se juda, Junoon se Saja', as a tribute to the Indian farming community, the virtual tractor drive was launched to foster a deeper connection with the brand, while capitalising on the celebratory mood of the festive season.

Partnering with Vitra.ai, a leader in AI-driven face augmentation technology for video personalization and translation, Mahindra Tractors aims to provide farmers with a personal "HERO MOMENT" of themselves alongside a Mahindra Tractor. Utilizing cutting-edge rich media powered by advanced machine learning and deep learning methodologies, Vitra.ai’s face augmentation technology enables Mahindra to deliver a first-of-its-kind seamless hyper-personalized video experience for customers, in Mahindra Tractors campaign videos.

To generate a personalised video, users need to go through a simple intuitive process by visiting the Mahindra Tractors website and upload a picture of themselves, their cell phone number and location, for the video to be delivered over WhatsApp, in regional languages based on their location.

Commenting on the initiative, Vikram Wagh, Chief Executive Officer – Mahindra Tractors, said, "At Mahindra Tractors, we are excited to present the first-ever virtual tractor drive, a brand-new initiative that represents our brand at the forefront of technology beyond just our products for a deeper connection with our new and evolving farmers. The new initiative is a testament to the power of AI, through which we have already enabled over 250,000 experiences.”

Mahindra to Skill 500 Women to Become Drone Pilots; Inks MoU With Ministry

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., a leading farm equipment company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to launch the Drone Didi Yojana. This initiative aims to train 15,000 women to operate drones for agricultural purposes, such as fertilizer sowing, crop monitoring, and seed sowing.

The program will conduct two pilot projects at the National Skill Training Institutes (NSTI) in Hyderabad and Noida. These pilots are designed to skill 500 women in exclusive batches of 20, with a 15-day curriculum approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The training will be delivered by Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) instructors.

Within this partnership, the NSTIs will provide infrastructure for running the training programme, hostel for participants and tap into local Women Self Help Groups and NGOs to mobilise participation. Mahindra Group will provide initial set-up support through simulation machinery/drones, simulator controller, simulator software, Desktop computer with i5 Processor and trainers, and meet the operating costs for the duration of the Pilot project, including the cost of DGCA License Holder Instructors at the centres.

As a further support to the intent of the Drone Didi Yojana, Mahindra will soon roll out Drone training for women at the company’s skilling centres at Zaheerabad, Telangana and Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group said, “Aligned with our Rise philosophy, the Mahindra Group is committed to empowering the women with the skills necessary to join the workforce and achieve financial independence. The pilot under the Drone Didi Yojana represents a first-of-its-kind convergence of women, farming, and technology. We are absolutely delighted to provide technology training to grassroots women and ensure that agriculture is equipped for the future."

Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, said, "We are excited to announce our partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., leveraging their agricultural expertise for comprehensive training. Two NSTIs in Hyderabad and Noida have been chosen for the pilot program, with the goal of empowering rural women in agriculture. This collaboration advances our mission of upskilling women for nation-building, particularly through the successful implementation of the Drone Didi program in empowering women in emerging trades. I firmly believe that this collaboration with Mahindra will advance our vision, equipping women with the skills needed to contribute to nation-building. Building on our past successful collaborations with leading technology industry partners, this initiative represents the beginning of many collaborative projects with Mahindra. Through rigorous training methodologies and hands-on learning experiences, we will equip our students with the practical skills and competencies required to excel in their chosen fields and make meaningful contributions to the nation's socio-economic growth."

This partnership represents a unique convergence of women, farming, and technology, and is aligned with Mahindra's Rise philosophy, which is committed to empowering women to join the workforce and achieve financial independence. The initiative also supports MSDE's mission of upskilling women for nation-building, particularly through the successful implementation of the Drone Didi program in empowering women in emerging trades.

LTIMindtree and Farmers Edge Launch Farmers Edge Innovation Lab (FEIL) in Mumbai

Farmers Edge and LTIMindtree Unveil FEIL – Mumbai: A Pioneering Agricultural Innovation Hub Redefining Farming in India

Farmers Edge, a pure-play digital agriculture company, and LTIMindtree [NSE: LTIM, BSE: 540005], a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, today announced the launch of the Farmers Edge Innovation Lab (FEIL) in Mumbai.

The newly launched innovation hub, powered by Fairfax Digital Services, is set to redefine agriculture in India. By integrating cutting-edge AgTech with global digital solutions expertise FEIL will secure early victories and tangible results, laying the foundation for scaling generative AI projects.

Farmers Edge brings advanced capabilities in remote sensing and agronomic modeling, empowering farmers, and enterprise clients with unparalleled insights. Partnering with LTIMindtree, FEIL is poised to create a nexus of expertise and knowledge exchange between North America and India. LTIMindtree’s advanced technologies that includes GenAI, IoT, Automation, and Drones, will work towards elevating farming in the country to provide high crop yields at low input costs. The launch of this innovation lab marks a significant milestone in the evolution of agriculture in India, setting the stage for a future where technology and tradition would harmonise to drive prosperity in the fields.

FEIL’s mission is to educate and empower India’s farmers, providing tailored solutions that enhance yields, reduce costs, and ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for Indian agriculture. The lab will focus on key aspects crucial to the Indian market such as:Weather: Analysing weather patterns and their impact on crop production.
Soil: Ensuring a comprehensive understanding for maximising yields while improving soil health.
Crop Cycles: Assisting farmers in optimising field processes to add significant value to the agricultural value chain.

Speaking on the occasion, Vibhore Arora, CEO of Farmers Edge, expressed, “We are thrilled to lead such an incredible initiative for India’s agriculture with LTIMindtree. This is more than just an innovation hub, FEIL-Mumbai will provide the necessary support to the agricultural revolution, creating sustainable and efficient, data-driven solutions tailored to the specific needs of Indian farmers.”

Nachiket Deshpande, Whole-Time Director & COO, LTIMindtree said, “At LTIMindtree, our efforts to build solutions are always focused on fostering an ecosystem where ideas and innovations flourish. With the launch of this innovation lab, our best talent and technology will revolutionise sustainable farming in India.”

“Creative Innovation Lab is a great step forward to bring global technology in India to support sustainable farming practices and enhancing farmers’ yield. Aligned with UN SDG Goal #2, Farmers Edge (a Fairfax Company) and LTIMindtree are poised to uplift the food supply chain, keeping sustainability at heart. As a Co-Chair of G20 Startup 20 Sustainability Task Force, I am very pleased to witness how digital technology is truly creating an impact on the ground, quite literally,” said Sanjay Tugnait, President, and CEO of Fairfax Digital Services.

As a testament to the international collaboration, Farmers Edge and LTIMindtree are facilitating the cross-pollination of best practices from North America to India. The specific goals include sustainability, yield enhancement, and cost reduction for Indian farmers. FEIL – Mumbai aims to create a tailored setup, focusing on weather, soil, and crop cycles unique to the Indian agricultural landscape.

Pahwa Group Inaugurates the DRI Sustainable Agriculture Resource Center on World Environment Day

Situated in Alwar, Rajasthan, the center aims at promoting organic farming

DRI, the flagship company of Pahwa Group, the fastest growing adsorption technology group in the world, inaugurates the DRI Sustainable Agriculture Resource Center at Dadhikar village in Alwar, Rajasthan, in partnership with the Sapna NGO. With an aim to provide benefits to the farmers, the center was inaugurated on the occasion of the World Environment Day (5th June, 2023) by Mrs. Anandita Pahwa, Head-CSR Initiatives, Pahwa Group, in the presence of Mr. Jagdish Prasad Sharma, Assistant Agriculture Officer, Alwar; Mr. Sudhir Pratap Singh, General Secretary and Prof. Ranvir Singh, Secretary, Sapna NGO. Many of the farmers from the Dadhikar village were also present for the inauguration.

The objective of this center is to promote sustainable and environment-friendly agricultural practices and improve soil health and fertility through natural methods. Benefiting more than 150 farmers in the area, this project will lead to increased access to organic, healthy and chemical-free food for the local community, along with providing training and support to farmers & villagers transitioning to organic farming methods. Initially, four types of organic khad will be made and distributed to the villagers from the new center, namely Neemastra, Jivamrit, Vermi Compost and Rapid Compost.

This center is aimed at generating awareness about organic farming and increasing the productivity of the crop. The long-term impact of this project will be to eliminate the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetically modified seeds and breeds, preservatives, additives and irradiation. These will be replaced by site-specific management practices that maintain and increase long-term soil fertility and prevent pests and diseases.

 

Earlier this year, the company also inaugurated a Check Dam in the same area of Dadhikar village, Alwar to balance the water scarcity by recharging the water table. Commenting on the past initiatives and the new center, Anandita Pahwa, Head - CSR Activities, Pahwa Group said, “We are proud to say that the underground water levels have gone up since the construction of the check dams in the area, allowing the farmers some respite in terms of the availability of water. It has also encouraged them to get back to farming with vigor and we want to further work towards this. Moreover, we are sure that the new DRI Sustainable Agriculture Resource Center will act as a catalyst of change and arm the farmers with resources to move away from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, towards using organic farming products".

The Center will also be used as a Farmer Training and Capacity Building center, where the company plans to conduct workshops and training sessions on organic farming techniques. It will also provide education on soil management, composting, natural pest control, and crop rotation, and demonstrate different organic techniques suitable for the local conditions.

In addition to the inauguration, DRI and Bry-Air (another flagship company under the Pahwa Group) also organized volunteer activities with the children studying at the Bry-Air and DRI Pathshalas in Dharam Colony and Carterpuri village of Gurugram on the same day. The activities for the students included a drawing competition around the theme of ‘beating plastic pollution’, decorating flowerpots and planting seeds in them. The aim of the event was to create awareness among the students and sensitize them as future generations towards the growing strain on Earth's natural ecosystem and encourage them to take steps to protect the environment.

For years, Pahwa Group has been an active participant in the endeavor to protect the environment and preserve the earth. It has undertaken various initiatives like the construction of check dams for rainwater harvesting, plantation drives, and afforestation to increase green cover and improve the air quality in a step towards the restoration of the ecosystem. As a result of the regular afforestation drives in Dadhikar village, Alwar, Rajasthan, a forest of more than 750 medicinal and fruit-bearing trees has been developed. This will help in the re-greening of the area which will be able to provide fruits for the locality.

Fyllo and Orchardly Join Hands to Revolutionize Apple Farming in the Valley

Apple is commercially the most important temperate fruit and is fourth among the most widely produced fruits in the world after banana, orange and grape.

India's share in the total world apple production is merely 2.05 per cent. Only around 1.6% of the country's production gets exported.

India’s Apple industry worth is around 1.5 B USD and there is a huge untapped potential in terms of improving the quality and quantity of produce. Shifting to new varieties, high density cultivation method, adopting new irrigation methods and technology in decision making can be some of they way to increase the market share of Indian Apple and increasing farmers’ income too.

Orchardly has been working with over 10000 farmers helping them from high density orchards setup, agronomy, quality inputs to post harvest services. They have decades of experience of working with Apple farmers and been themselves growers.

With the mission statement “Let us make better orchards together,” Orchardly has offered agronomy solutions to the valley’s apple farmers, including spray advisories and comprehensive integrated nutrition management guidance through their mobile app.

Fyllo is a Bangalore based precision agriculture company and been working with 5000+ farmers in crops like Grapes, Pomegranate, Citrus, Banana etc. to help farmers take on farm decisions using real time farm data and agronomy models. The early prediction models covering each stage of the crops have been able to reduce the input cost by 30% and increase the per acre produce by over 25%. Fyllo has saved over 10 billion Litres of water.

The joint work includes providing smart IoT devices and precise growing advisory to apple farmers based on this data. Two companies also plan to extend hi-tech and full stack apple farming solutions to the growers.

“We import around USD 260 M worth of apple. While we export almost negligible amount. Our partnership with Orchardly is a strong step towards helping the Indian growers produce best quality apple and take the same to world. Orchardly’s deep understanding of the crop, agronomy services and strong supply chain hold will definitely help us achieve the goal.” said Sudhanshu Rai and Sumit, Directors at Fyllo.

Adding to this, Mr. Uzair, Director at Orchardly said, “World is moving towards sustainable farming and it is very important for us to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Use of precision agriculture in our orchards will help us to bring down the inputs atleast by 30% and thereby reducing the residue levels on our fruits and make them ready for international market. ”

To Increase Agriculture Productivity Ambee Brings Data Science to Farming, Launches ‘SmartFarming Data’, an Environmental Intelligence Suite

Representational Image (credits - Thomas Richter on Unsplash)

Ambee launches ‘SmartFarming Data’ to increase agriculture productivity using environmental intelligence

Ambee’s ‘SmartFarming Data’ ​​is a suite of agro-weather, satellite imagery, and farm analytics that help farmers monitor and manage farms.

Ambee, an environmental intelligence company that supplies hyperlocal environmental data in real-time, has launched ‘SmartFarming Data’, a new offering that brings data science techniques to farmers and agribusinesses to improve the health of their farms. ‘SmartFarming Data’ by Ambee will help farmers understand their farms better, mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture, take measures to monitor and mitigate soil degradation, and increase agricultural productivity using environmental data.

A recent report by the United Nations indicates that the world population is expected to grow to 10 Billion by 2050. According to the same report, the world loses around 12 million hectares of productive land each year, resulting in widespread implications such as poor agricultural yields, food scarcity, forced migration, and more. Year-on-year there has been a 40% decline in crop yield and crop quality due to depleting soil nutrition, climate change, and intensive farming techniques that cause significant greenhouse gas emissions.

 

There is a dire need to confront the requirement of increased agricultural production to feed a growing population. The answer as we have come to realise is not aggressive over farming, but sustainable agricultural practices while soldiering through climate change, depletion of natural resources, increased erosion, and more. We have to ensure access to a sufficient supply of healthy, diverse, and safe food for a growing global population while limiting the impact on the environment and coping with climate change. In order to do so, we need to adopt better and smarter farming techniques that not only improve production capacity but also minimise the overuse of water resources, chemicals, and other unsustainable practices that impact the environment.

‘SmartFarming Data’ by Ambee has been designed with a two-fold goal in mind - one, to increase agricultural productivity using environmental data, two, to assist in the implementation of sustainable farming practices to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. The product provides historical and forecast agro-weather data to improve crop yield, detailed soil data to monitor soil productivity and mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture. Furthermore, the product can also be used by agri companies to make critical business decisions based on historical and forecast yield quality, and researchers can use SmartFarming Data to find solutions to agricultural concerns.

Commenting on the new offering, Madhusudhan Anand, CTO and Co-Founder, Ambee, said, “The impact of climate-related events is universal. It affects everyone, everywhere, and in every industry. Among the many possible concerns caused by climate change, the threats to global agriculture stand out as one of the most serious. It impacts agricultural yield which will, in turn, cause severe food shortages. The food and agriculture organisation of the United Nations states that the global supply of food will need to increase by 70% by 2050 to meet the demands of the growing population. In order to cater to this demand, farmers need to have an informed and intimate understanding of their fields while ensuring efficient and responsible utilisation of natural resources.”

“At Ambee, we are on a mission to address the interlinked challenges of food security and climate change. Through our ‘SmartFarming Data’, our goal is to create easy access to environmental intelligence to help our farmers grow more with efficient utilisation of natural resources'' added Madhusudhan Anand.

Product features of ‘SmartFarming Data’

• Hyperlocal agro-weather data: Historical and forecast weather data to improve yield.
• Satellite imagery: Satellite images in true and false colours, high resolution, and downloadable formats.
• Real-time soil data: Soil data to monitor soil fertility, control moisture, and temperature level.
• NDVI data: NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) and EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index) are typically used to identify vegetation greenness. Ambee’s ‘SmartFarming Data’ offers NDVI and EVI data to assess vegetation health and behaviour.

Sectors using ‘SmartFarming Data’

• Farmers and Agricultural companies can use ‘SmartFarming Data’ for output enhancement and predictability.
• Crop insurance providers and financial lending institutions can use this for risk prediction and management.
• Government agri agencies and advisory can use this information for output predictability and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices.
• Seed production companies can use this information for quality maximization.

For more details visit: https://www.smartfarmingdata.com/

AiDash Acquires Business and Assets of GeoAI Startup, Neurafarms.ai

By acquiring Neurafarms.ai, AiDash strengthens its product line and adds valuable talent to its high-performing team

AiDash, a leading provider of satellite- and AI-powered operations, maintenance, and sustainability solutions, today announced its acquisition of geospatial- and AI-powered farming solutions provider, Neurafarms.ai in an undisclosed deal.

With the addition of Neurafarms.ai’s team and assets, AiDash builds on its vision of becoming a global leader in leveraging satellites and AI to revolutionize operations, maintenance, and sustainability for core industries. To do that, AiDash is actively hiring talent with a passion for solving these critical problems. Neurafarms.ai shared AiDash’s goal of leveraging technology to provide actionable insights to their customers.

Bhavesh Patidar, Neurafarms.ai co-founder and leader of the start-up’s data science innovations, will join the AiDash team, with a focus on strengthening AiDash’s Disaster and Disruptions Management System (DDMS), which helps industries better manage disaster prediction, detection, and response. Patidar is an IIT BHU alumnus and brings with him extensive expertise in deep learning, machine learning, satellite image processing, and a passion for solving real-world business problems spanning domains.

"Neurafarms.ai's vision was to change the way Earth Observation (EO) data is consumed in India, and I strongly believe that our acquisition by AiDash will not only help us accomplish our goals, but also transform the way stakeholders use data for decision-making across industries worldwide,” said Patidar. "Neurafarms.ai has developed an AI engine that combines data from multiple satellites and provides daily insights about the conditions on the earth. Our EO technology can be used across sectors to drive risk-optimised outcomes."

Dr. Anil Singh, Neurafarms.ai’s Head of Research & Development, will also join AiDash as a Remote Sensing Scientist. His focus will be enhancing the company’s research and development activities to analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems and channel it to solve industry problems. Dr. Singh holds a PhD in climate risk and agriculture from the prestigious IIRS (ISRO) and has also worked with the Indian Meteorological Department.

“We’re thrilled to have Bhavesh Patidar and Dr. Anil Singh join the AiDash team,” said AiDash Co-founder & CTO Rahul Saxena. “We’re eager to see them put their respective in-depth knowledge into action to improve our products and better meet the needs of our customers.”

Organizations are in need of innovative technology to tackle the global problems of sustainability and adaptability to climate change. The talent and assets of Neurafarms.ai will help AiDash lead the charge in making the Earth a safer and sustainable place.

About AiDash

AiDash is an AI-first vertical SaaS company enabling satellite- and AI-powered operations, maintenance, and sustainability for industries with geographically distributed assets. AiDash uses high-resolution multispectral and SAR data from the world's leading satellite constellations that are fed into its proprietary AI models to make timely predictions at scale. These AI models empower AiDash's full-stack applications that transform O&M for utility, energy, transportation, water and wastewater, mining, and construction companies. For more, visit www.aidash.com.

About Neurafarms.ai

Founded in 2019, Neurafarms.ai offered a B2B SaaS solution that provided farm-level insights for reliable, data-driven decision-making to farmers and farming businesses spanning agriculture input-output companies, insurance, and financial institutions. They used AI to analyze real-time satellite data for soil conditions, crop health, and local weather predictions to provide actionable insights. 

Vegetable Farming Startup Pepper Farms Raises $1 Mn in Seed Funding led by Axilor Ventures

Saurabh Singla,Co-Founder and CEO Pepper Farms; Shalini Aggarwal, Co-Founder and COO Pepper Farms

Pepper Farms is disrupting the 300 billion dollarhorticulture industry in India by organising productions via improved infrastructure and tech integrations.

The company is on track to reach an Annual Recurring Revenue of 8 million USD by mid-2022 with improved yields and adding 1000 acres of land under it in next 12 months.

Agritech start-up Pepper Farms, that helps farmers organise vegetable production lifecycle starting with plantations until harvest and sales, secured USD 1 million in seed fund led by AxilorVentures and Himanshu Aggarwal, Co-founder of Aspiring Minds. Others who also participated in the round included Prof Tarun Khanna (Harvard Business School), Raman Uberoi(ex-COO CRISIL), Sunil Kalra (Via Projects), Rahul Jain (Co-Founder Epigamia).

Founded by Saurabh Singla, an alumni of IIT Guwahati and Shalini Aggarwal, Chartered Accountant, an alumni of SRCC, Gurugram based Pepper Farms is organising vegetable production by building a network of farms with end to end virtual management, customised agronomy, and direct market linkages. The company aims to use the capital to strengthen its operations via advanced technology and agronomy stack.On a track to reach an Annual Recurring Revenue of 8 million USD by mid-2022, Pepper Farms is organising the 300 billion USD horticulture industry in India.

Directly working with farm owners, farmers, and others involved in the value chain of vegetable production, the company has been able to expand its business in country’s top agricultural geographies, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh managing dozens of farms.

Speaking on the announcement, Saurabh Singla, Co-Founder and CEO Pepper Farms, said, “Emerging as the fastest growing network of protected farms in India, we aim to bring production of another 1000 acres under Pepper Farms in the next 12 months. Multiplying yields and financial returns with great traction from farmers and landowners, we are on a mission to disrupt the farming industry with our agronomy, operations, and marketing strategies”.

“The idea was to reduce inefficiencies plaguing the farming ecosystem. With structuring small, fragmented farms, we are able to impact the lives of hundreds of farmers, skilled and unskilled workforce while delivering quality production for the masses,” added Shalini Aggarwal, Co-founder and COO Pepper Farms.

“There is a massive opportunity to optimise farming value chains. Pepper Farms has rapidly scaled from inception with its ground understanding of vegetable production, enabling future growth. With technology advancements and agriculture science developments, Pepper Farms will be a key player in the farm production ecosystem of the country,” commented Lead Investor Prachi Sinha, Axilor Ventures.

Pepper Farms is enabling improved yields, operating the entire value chain from plantation to harvest and large-scale sales with infrastructure management. With ground research, agronomy, marketing, and high-quality production round the year, the start-up is selling the produce daily across APMCs, eRetail, modern retail, and restaurants through their robust supply chain.

To know more about Pepper Farm, please visit: www.pepperfarms.in

To Create Unique Farm Experiences for Children, Bengaluru-based Hosachiguru Launches Managed Farmland DHAANVI

Dhaanvi Farm

DHAANVI - a first of its kind farmland focused on creating farm experiences for children

Dhaanvi by Hosachiguru is a space designed for children of all ages to engage in activities that bring them closer to nature

Hosachiguru, a farm asset management company, has launched ‘Dhaanvi’, a managed farmland that is focused on creating unique farm experiences for children. Located in Yerahalli in Thattiguppe village, a 60km drive from Kanakapura Road NICE Road junction, Dhaanvi by Hosachiguru provides an opportunity for parents and children to disconnect from city life and engage in activities that bring them closer to nature.

Dhaanvi Farmland by Hosachiguru was launched with a two-fold goal in mind - one, to provide an open space for children to appreciate and engage with nature, and become green enthusiasts and nature lovers of tomorrow, and two, to help children become the green superheroes of tomorrow by instilling in them the need and value of a green future. With this goal in mind, Hosachiguru has curated Dhaanvi where children can participate in activities like farming, tilling, animal petting, and harvesting, as well as storytelling, puppet performances, wall ball, hopscotch, and other games.

Dhaanvi Farm

Dhaanvi Farm

Dhaanvi Farm

Parents who are interested in investing in ‘Dhaanvi’ get a chance to choose from farm plots available in sizes of 0.25 and 0.5 AC, price starting at 28L. Hosachiguru’s expert team of permaculturists maintains the farm while their on-site staff helps in maintaining the farmhouse and in curating offbeat farm experiences for buyers and their families. All the organic vegetables grown in the common area on farms are aggregated and sent to the customer’s home in the city every week at an additional cost. Owners can enjoy the organic produce and also visit the farm to enjoy the fruits grown on their trees. Every owner gets a dedicated number of stays at the eco-retreat set up on the farm on a timeshare basis. Additionally, owners and their families can indulge in activities such as farming, hiking, cycling, yoga and wellness activities, and celebrating festivities.

Commenting on the new launch, Srinath Setty, Co-Founder, Hosachiguru, said “ We live in an age where digital screens have become one of the main sources of entertainment for children. We as parents have a responsibility to introduce our kids to experiences that are closer to nature. Farmland like Dhaanvi is a great way to let your child experience the magic of nature through fun activities such as farming, harvesting, and physical farm-based games. This not only makes them appreciate nature but it also empowers them to become green superheroes of tomorrow"

The farmlands will also have herbal and vegetable permaculture gardens, an Ayurvedic wellness center, animal interactions at barns and Gaushalas, viewing decks & machans, camping sites, kids playing areas, and an activities center. Owners can also work from the farm with high-speed internet access at designated areas.

To know more about Dhaanvi, visit https://www.hosachiguru.com/ or call +91 9513464100

About Hosachiguru

Started by Srinath Setty, Ashok J, and Sriram Chitlur in 2014, Hosachiguru was founded with a two-fold goal- one, to give back to the environment by growing trees instead of structures, two, to help individuals easily own, manage and reap the benefits of farmland. The idea behind Hosachiguru is to create farmlands that are environmentally and economically sustainable. Hosachiguru picks farmlands based on important parameters such as clear land titles, soil, water availability, and connectivity. Once the owner invests in the farmland, Hosachiguru will grow and maintain trees and crops of the land owner’s choice. The owners are free to choose fruits, flowers, and timber trees of their choice. Landowners enjoy multiple benefits of farmland ownership. They can build their own weekend homes on 10% of their farmland.

Only 60 Years of Farming Is Left if Soil Degradation Continues: Dr KRK Reddy, President of BIPA

The biggest ever Bio-Agri conference in India will be held in Hyderabad on 28th and 29th October

The 2020 World Food Prize Laureate Dr Rattan Lal among many other keynote speakers to address Bio-Agri-2021

Only 60 years of farming is left if soil degradation continues: Dr KRK Reddy, President of BIPA

The world soil is on the ventilator: CH. Srinivas

BIO AGRI-2021, the biggest ever Bio-Agri Conference in India will be held in Hyderabad at Westin, Madhapur on October 28 and 29th.

Disclosing this in a press conference held on Wednesday in Hotel Taj Vivanta, Begumpet, Dr KRK Reddy, President; Dr John Peter; Dr Sudha Reddy, Joint Secretary; Treasurers Ch. V. Srinivas and Ravi Kumar Pabbathi and Mr Raj Agarwal, Executive Director, the office bearers of BIPA--Bio Agri Producers Association said the theme of the conference will be Bio Innovations for Regenerative Agriculture

The first-ever two-day conference is expected to attract 150 plus delegates from across the world.

The 2020 World Food Prize Laureate Dr Rattan Lal among many other keynote speakers to address Bio-Agri-2021. He will address the conference delegates virtually from the United States of America. He is an Indian now living in the USA. The World Food Prize is considered the Nobel Prize in Agriculture. Over his career spanning more than five decades and four continents, Dr Lal has promoted innovative soil-saving techniques benefiting the livelihoods of more than 500 million smallholder farmers, improving the food and nutritional security of more than two billion people and saving hundreds of millions of hectares of natural tropical ecosystems. Dr Rattan Lal will speak on Indian Cropping System.

The other speakers include Dr Pam Marrone, Chairperson, Marrone Bio Innovations—USA; Mr Henri Oosthoek, MD of Koppert Biological Systems, The Netherlands; Dr Agenor Mafra-Neto, Chemical Ecology Researcher and others.

The conference will deliver upon Biological Crop Nutrition - Current Status and Way Forward; Biological Crop Protection - Emerging Trends; Predators, Parasites and Pollinators for better Crop Protection; Pheromones / Semi chemicals for innovative Crop Protection and Regulatory, Industry-Academia Interface and BioAg business opportunities

According to Raj Agarwal, the two day Bio Agri 2021 conference will focus on the innovations, services, and delivery systems to use and implement to bring back life to the soils, biodiversity restoration which will lead to regenerative and sustainable agriculture.

Great Leaders from the BioAgri sector will be participating in the conference. 150 plus agri experts, leaders from across India are expected to participate.

How to increase productivity, and how to produce quality output are the two important challenges in front of the Agriculture industry today, said Dr. KRK Reddy. As a result, there is a huge stress on the soil. The soil has lost its fertility. In another 30 years, by the year 2050, the major soils will be dead. By 2050, around 50% of the arable land would be salt-affected.

It will lose total fertility. If that happens, the world will face a food crisis.

We may encounter a famine situation.

The world will find it difficult to feed the population. We need to wake up to this catastrophe. Hence this is a historical conference, he added.

Quoting UN officials, Dr KRK Reddy said only 60 years of farming is left if soil degradation continues.

Generating three centimetres of topsoil takes 1,000 years, and if current rates of degradation continue all of the world’s topsoil could be gone within 60 years.

Dr John Peter said one-third of usable land globally is consumed by agriculture. It is perceived generally that industries are producing a lot of pollution.

But, 15% of greenhouse gases are produced because of agricultural practices and unconventional uses of chemicals. The current agri products have social and environmental impacts. We must reduce using chemicals.

Ch. V. Srinivas said soil which is supposed to be like a sponge has become a brick. The world soil is on the ventilator.

The BioAgri 2021 Conference will be organised by 19 years old BIPA, the first Bio input association in India established in the year 2003. BIPA has 100 members. It is a futuristic body to help agriculture sustain itself in future. It is a pioneering association. It is created to promote biological agriculture in India. It has been constantly interacting with the regulatory body for a better future of Indian Agriculture.

While the whole world is talking about Bio-Agri, Natural Agriculture and Sustainability now, the founders of BIPA had the vision 19 years back the importance of the subject informed Mr Raj Agarwal.

GreenSat Innovation Labs Inks MoU with Gramin Vikas Trust & IndiaHub e-Governance To Launch A Smart Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) Initiative

• The Smart FPO model will provide farmers with complete end to end tech-support through the GreenSat Innovations and IndiaHub app right from gathering information, to connecting farmers with financial service providers
• The targeted project size for 2021-22 is 100 FPOs with 500 FPOs planned for each successive year
• GreenSat aims to on-board 5 lakhs farmers by March 2022

Mumbai, July 8th 2021: GreenSat Innovation Labs Pvt. Ltd. a leading agritech company signed an MoU with Gramin Vikas Trust (GVT), a rural welfare organization, and IndiaHub e-Governance Pvt. Ltd., an innovation-driven start-up, as a technology partner for their Smart FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) initiative.

Under the initiative, the GreenSat Innovation App will offer end-to-end support that extends from precision farming to banking, market linkages, and innovative crop insurance products. In addition, it will offer direct access to National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) wherein the latter will offer a commodity trading platform for the bigger FPOs, providing farmers with direct access to the market.

The targeted project size for the first year (2021-22) is 100 FPOs with 500 FPOs planned for each successive year. More than 10,000 farmers have already signed up for the project with an additional 5,00,000 farmers expected to be on-boarded by March 2022.

Speaking about the initiative, Deepak Yadav, Founder, GreenSat Innovation Labs Pvt. Ltd., said, “At GreenSat our focus has been on utilizing the power of technology and data to offer innovative solutions to our farmers. We believe that technology is the game-changer that can revolutionize agriculture, removing bottlenecks that have crippled the sector for decades. This partnership is the result of our determination to offer complete end-to-end solutions for farmers where they can find information, finance, insurance cover, and a market for their products. We are glad that Gramin Vikas Trust (GVT) picked us as their partner for this project with their proven track record in successfully implementing rural welfare projects. IndiaHub shares our passion for utilising technology to bring sustainable solutions for farmers. Together, we hope to revolutionize farming as we know it, providing farmers with a single platform for all their requirements."

Co-curated by GreenSat Innovation Labs Pvt Ltd, the initiative is aimed at developing an Atmanirbhar Kisan - Smart FPO model to offer low-cost user-friendly technology to address the four major challenges faced by most farmers today, namely, crop management, gathering funds, ensuring adequate insurance cover, and market linkages for sales. These challenges will be addressed through two of GreenSat’s innovative tech-based solutions, namely, precision farming services and its faceless agri-banker concept.

Shri Shiv Shanker Singh, Chief Executing Officer, Gramin Vikas Trust further explained, “When GreenSat approached us with the Smart FPO initiative, we immediately realised that it would fit with

GVT’s vision of bringing sustainable improvement into the lives of our rural poor and marginalised communities. It would bring the power of technology to our farmers’ doorstep, providing them with critical information, while connecting them with much-needed financial and market support. With this comprehensive support on one platform, it will also help in transforming rural communities, giving people the power to harness technology and bring change into their own lives."

The app will offer users access to both precision farming services and the faceless agri-banker concept. Precision farming services will offer farmers critical information such as weather forecast, detection of diseases and pests, crop growth monitoring, nutrient tracking, irrigation management, and agri-doctor assistance. The faceless agri-banker concept integrates all financial support services in one place, including, loans, insurance, sales, commodity research, and access to NCDEX.

Elaborating on the initiative Mr. Shekhar Tyagi, Director Operations, IndiaHub E-Governance Pvt. Ltd., added, “We have already seen the power of data and technology in the corporate sector. Today, no business decision is taken without a careful analysis of all the data available. The Smart FPO initiative takes these essential tools to the agricultural sector, giving farmers critical support in every aspect, from crop management to trading in commodities. With all the necessary data at their fingertips, they can make informed decisions in areas like procuring finance or connecting with the nearest markets. It will also help them avoid the pitfalls that have plagued the sector, such as lack of insurance and poor market linkages."

The project will initially be marketed in, Haryana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal, J&K and Nagaland.

Learn Latest Aquaculture Technologies for Aqua Farming with Mobile App "Matsya Setu"

Photo by Aqua Shack from Pexels

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Giriraj Singh, today launched the Online Course Mobile App “Matsya Setu”. The app was developed by the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar, with the funding support of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad. The online course app aims to disseminate the latest freshwater aquaculture technologies to the aqua farmers of the country.

Matsya Setu app has species-wise/ subject-wise self-learning online course modules, where renowned aquaculture experts explain the basic concepts and practical demonstrations on breeding, seed production and grow-out culture of commercially important fishes like carp, catfish, scampi, murrel, ornamental fish, pearl farming etc. Better Management Practices to be followed in maintaining the soil & water quality, feeding and health management in aquaculture operations were also provided in the course platform. The modules are divided into small video chapters for the convenience of the learners, along with additional learning materials. In order to motivate the learners and provide a lively learning experience, Quiz/Test options were also provided for self-assessment. Upon successful completion of each course module, an e-Certificate can be auto-generated. Farmers can also ask their doubts through the app and get specific advisories from experts.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, stated that capacity building of fish farmers is a very vital part of spearheading the Technology-led Aquaculture Development in the country. He emphasized that trainings should be provided on various activities including ornamental fisheries, seaweed culture, module on feed preparation, post harvest value addition. He emphasized to include inputs of successful farmers while providing training.

He stated that the app will be surely helpful for the farmers to learn the advancements in the technologies and Better Management Practices at their convenience. Learning the advanced technologies will certainly influence the adoption of scientific methods in fish farming; hence the productivity will be enhanced, and the income will be improved. This app can also be an important tool to disseminate the latest information on different schemes among the stakeholders, especially fishers, fish farmers, youth and entrepreneurs across the country, assist them and facilitate ease of doing business. He expressed confidence that the app will serve as a wonderful platform for the farmers for learning.

During the event, Union Minister interacted with progressive fish farmers from various places in the country and taken inputs from the farmers. During the interaction he enquired about the cost economics of the various fish culture practices and also asked some of the successful farmers to share videos of 1 to 2 minutes of their projects implemented.

While appreciating the efforts of the ICAR-CIFA & NFDB for bringing out the app for the benefit of the farmers. The Union Minister said that the app should be popularized widely and should reach every fish farmer in the country.

Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Mr J.N.Swain, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India and senior officers of the Department of Fisheries were present.

More information on how to download and use the app -HERE

Top 7 Ways To Increase Crop Yield

None could disagree to the fact that farmers are the true sons of soil as they render the most essential service to our nation - putting food on our tables. And for any farmer; the annual crop yield is the most crucial aspect to life and livelihood. The overall crop yield is a firm indicator of the land’s profitability and is one of the key attributes of successful farming. Therefore, it is extremely essential for every farmer to learn the best methods of enhancing their crop yield by harnessing novel techniques and cultivation methods.

Let us look at the seven best ways to improve crop yield:

1) Prepare your seeds before you plant them

It is essential to prepare the seed before planting to ensure the desired germination results. To exemplify this further, take the case of Groundnut. Before readying the seeds for planting, it is recommended to spray Thiamethoxam 30 FS (Shinestar Plus) so that the seeds are coated (taking precaution with the cover). This helps the plant grow stronger & absorb better nutrition from the soil. It functions as an effective vaccine against the plethora of threats faced by the plant early during germination & early growth stage. By utilizing such products, one can be confident of reaping a higher quality crop that would need relatively less input in the advanced stages.

2) A balanced diet of micronutrients is a must

While using DAP to extend nutrition to the crops is essential, we should also remember the various micronutrients that are needed in small quantities and are ultra-important to receive a good crop. These micronutrients mainly consist of Zinc, Boron, etc and are responsible for enriching the soil. Besides providing these necessary micronutrients, we also need to be clear about the various nutritional products that are beneficial.

Research indicates that Zinc 12% (Amrit Zinc) is a higher grade product as compared to Zinc 33% as it doesn't react with other products like DAP. Moreover Amrit Zinc is needed in a much lesser quantity & most essentially is assimilated at a much faster rate than Zinc 33%. So, it is important to be careful so as to extend the right product and the right nutrition.

Plants can also exhibit several symptoms of nutritional deficiencies such as yellowing of leaves, formation of brown spots/lines, etc. It is necessary to detect these signs beforehand & provide the right nutrients in the required amount at the correct time to counter plant deficiencies from damaging further.

2) Strong roots make better crops

Gibberellic acid is great for helping the crops develop a robust root system. A strong root system is extremely important for the plant as it aids the roots in soaking up nutrients more efficiently and also increases the overall crop strength. It is pertinent to adopt these high-grade products into farming practices as they lead to faster germination and a stronger crop that stands firm against diseases. It also helps in increasing the number of flowers & therefore no of fruits in the crop. It is of paramount importance to consider that it is possible to improve a crop yield during the initial stages of plant development. Bettering the crop yield and growing multiple folds is not possible in the later stages. You can use certified Gibberellic acid-enriched products such as the Great Expert by Safex which can work wonders for heightening the crop yield.

4) Managing pests

To control pestilence and pest attacks, it is recommended to regularly monitor the usual locations for pest detection. Vigilance during such stages is of utmost essence. You can directly confer the leading Indian agro-chemical enterprise Safex on its website for gaining know-how regarding these subjects. It is also essential to optimize each quality product only in the recommended quantities. It is important to follow the instructions to the last word to achieve satisfactory outcome. Remember the age-old farming adage - early control is always better than late remedies.

5) Taking the advice of experts

If you are feeling confused, it is best to contact certified experts in the field of agriculture who can help you overcome your doubts. These experts can lend crucial advice on a number of farming-related issues such as a mysterious plant disease or unidentified crop pests that might be jeopardizing your field. You can contact these highly-educated and adept experts who are knowledgeable about the entire gamut of problems pertaining to the field of agriculture. To get such timely help and valuable assistance, you can contact the Safex helpline and rid yourself of every farming-related hassle.

6) Crop rotation is the vital key

The importance of crop rotation cannot be emphasized enough. It helps in breathing new life into the soil by rejuvenating it and removing excess pressure that comes with growing a single crop obsessively. It is essential to note that while certain crops absorb nutrients from the soil, there are other crops that add them. Therefore, it is imperative to balance both the aspects to create a nutrient rich soil-bed for the cultivation of different crops. This proves instrumental in nourishing and nurturing the soil organically which in turn facilitates a higher crop yield.

7) Agents that enhance efficiency

Water has limited spreading ability and the medicine spray permeates only certain parts of the leaf. The experts at Safex recommend farmers to utilize best in class wetting & spreading agents like Welvet to enhance the efficacy of the spray. Using such product brings down the water’s surface tension & thus increasing its dissemination rate by an impressive 10X. Therefore, it now possible to ensure a much higher permeation rate that spreads through the whole leaf with the same amount of medicine. This consistent epidermal layering of medicine defends the plant from a variety of pest strikes, thereby, levying less effort & more cost effectiveness on the farmer’s part.

Yono by SBI Joins Hands with Shivrai Technologies, to Launch Small Farm Accounting App, Farmizo Khata

Farmizo Khata assisting Farmers of the Future

Shivrai Technologies, Indian AgTech company, recently announced the launch of their B2C Farm accounting mobile application, Farmizo Khata. Joining hands with Yono by SBI, they aim to help farmers across the country to manage their accounts efficiently, thus cutting down on losses. Shivrai also owns their own B2B brand, FarmERP.

Shivrai Technologies recently coined their 25-year mark of incorporation. Known for their formidable solutions in the space of AgriTech, they are all set to dip their foot into the B2C pool. Through this new venture with Yono by SBI, they aim to make their application increasingly accessible.
 
Farmers incur massive losses due to the lack of knowledge, disorganised book-keeping skills, and inability to manage their expenses in the most profitable manner. To aid this process, Shivrai Technologies partnered with leading digital banking platform, Yono SBI to help smallholder, marginal, and large-holder farmers by way of a free application. This will allow them to focus on their costs incurred, as well as the bookkeeping of total profits that are in line.
 
This free-of-cost application will not only efficiently manage their accounts but will also give them a platform to analyse and calculate their profits, losses, and expenses, thus enabling them to make wiser purchase, harvest, and production decisions. It is curated in the simplest possible way for smallholder farmers to benefit from it.
 
Aapki Kheti Ka Hisaab Kitaab- Available on Google Playstore and Appstore, as well as in the form of a digital portal, this accounting software has a simple User Interface and Experience for its audience. Shivrai is offering this software to farmers all across the nation at no cost.
 
How Does It Work?
 
Users can create their profile by entering basic information. Post that, the software will guide them to register their plot by entering Plot details and Crop Information. This software will also assist the farmers in Geo-Tagging their crops. In the next step, the farmers would be required to add their expenses incurred on each plot, along with their income details and profit and loss amounts on the software’s dashboard. After doing this, the software would automatically generate the Exact Cost of Production of each crop as per kg and acre. This would include the Auditor cost, the marketing and housekeeping cost, etc. In the end, the software would create a ‘Khata’ with a complete view of all the transactions in a simple ledger.
 
Sanjay Borkar, CEO and Co-Founder of Shivrai Technologies commented on the launch of the software, “We are very excited to announce the launch of this application. Inconsistent cost sheets, poor calculations of expenses and income, faulty accounts are a pain for farmers, resulting in massive financial setbacks. Farmizo Khata has entered the market with the sole purpose of reducing these financial setbacks for smallholder farmers, in turn increasing their yearly turnovers.”
 
Under the umbrella of Farmizo, Shivrai also plans on launching applications catering to various sub-verticals within the agricultural industry. In the year 2021, the brand is focusing on the upliftment of smallholder farmers by way of launching various applications personalised for their use. In the coming months, Shivrai is gearing itself to launch its new D2C application. The app that is in the final stages of testing, would be directly selling fresh fruits and vegetables to end-consumers, bypassing all and any third-party retailers or middlemen. In the next two years, the brand has a target to onboard 2 million agricultural stakeholders on their platforms.
 
Santosh Shinde, COO, and Co-Founder of Shivrai Technologies stated, “We believe Farmizo Khata will pave a way for smallholder farmers giving them the right support they need to make wise financial decisions. This being the 25th year of the inception of our parent company, Shivrai Technologies, we have some exciting projects in the pipeline. Farmizo is one such project that we can’t wait to share with the market.”
 
Shivrai Technologies is best known for their B2B Farm Business Management Platform, FarmERP. The platform has its presence in over 25 countries today, catering to stakeholders across the entire agricultural value chain. Their comprehensive platform acts as a solution for various agribusinesses and aims to vastly grow in the future with their personalised solutions.

Agritech Firm Aqgromalin Launches 1st App to Make Live Input Materials Available Online for Animal Husbandry and Aquaculture Farmers

Facilitates the farmers with the process of purchasing live input materials online for easy Animal Husbandry and Aquaculture practice

Gurugram, February 2021: Aqgromalin – South India-based one of the fastest-growing farm diversification integrators has recently launched AQAI – the first-ever B2B app exclusively for animal husbandry and aquaculture farmers. The state-of-the-art app makes the availability and accessibility of live input materials easy for farmers.

Presently, the market of input materials required for animal husbandry and aquaculture is highly unorganized and unaddressed. Due to a limited number of registered hatcheries, the majority of farmers deal with middlemen to procure these input materials. Thus, Aqgromalin endeavours to provide a clear solution through its robust app and makes the practice of animal husbandry and aquaculture seamless for farmers.

Delighted with the app launch, Prasanna Manogaran, CEO/Co-Founder of Aqgromalin said, “AQAI makes us the first-ever player in the world to supply live input material for Animal Husbandry and Aquaculture by ordering via an app. Inconsistent supply of quality input materials, price discovery, and quality issues are major pain points for farmers in Animal Husbandry and Aquaculture segments. We believe AQAI will pave a way in successfully addressing such challenges and ensuring the farmers pay a fair price for good quality products.”

The newly launched app brings transparency in terms of pricing and quality of materials for farmers. Within the first 10 days of the launch, Aqgromalin has witnessed more than 10k registrations and close to 50 orders per day on the app. Aqgromalin has rolled out the app in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka as part of the initial phase of the launch. Being a multi-lingual app, AQ AI enables the farmers to order in English, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi. In the near future, it is planning to add more regional languages to acquire an expansive farmer base spread in other parts of the country.

The app is available for free download on Android devices as 95% of the farm base users own android phones. The company is also going to release itsiOS version in the coming month to serve all communities of farmers. Being a new-age farm diversification integrator, Aqgromalin helps small landholding farmers to increase their income with its ready to implement small farms. Through the micro-farm set-up, a few farmers have recorded an increase by 100 % in their income. Furthermore, the company follows a comprehensive approach to help farmers put their existing farm assets in use and broaden their agricultural practices for better growth and also provides an easy buy policy to help them sell their produce at a highly profitable price.

Incepted in 2019, Aqgromalin has established a strong presence in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana and has been associated with SERP (Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty), Govt of Telangana, TANUVAS (Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University), Tamil Nadu, ICAR-CIBA (Central Institute of Brackish Aquaculture). Additionally, the company has recently raised a funding of INR 2 Cr. from angel investors participating from the Middle East to set up 500 micro-farms in South India.

About Aqgromalin

Aqgromalin is one of the fastest-growing farm diversification companies that aims to supplement the income of small landholding farmers through ready to implement micro-farms. It makes access easier for various agricultural implements and technology.Incepted in 2019, the company is based in Tamil Nadu and has strong operations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.