New Delhi: March 20th - In a move to empower smallholder farmers across India, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Dhanuka Agri-Tech Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday.

The collaboration aims to leverage the expertise of both institutions to deliver advanced agricultural technologies and training programs to the nation's vast network of small-scale farmers. With over 14.5 crore smallholders in India, this initiative seeks to address their specific needs and equip them with the knowledge and tools for successful agricultural production.

Dhanuka Agri-Tech, in collaboration with ICAR's central institutions ATARI and KVKs, will provide targeted training programs on best practices in agricultural production. Recognizing the growing concerns around climate change, both ICAR and Dhanuka Agri-Tech emphasized the MoU's focus on promoting natural and eco-friendly farming methods.

"In today's world grappling with climate change, it's crucial for institutions to collaborate on innovative and sustainable agricultural solutions," said Dr. U.S. Gautam, Deputy Director General of Agricultural Extension (ICAR). Dr. R.G. Aggarwal, Chairman of Dhanuka Agri-Tech Limited, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the company's commitment to providing advisory services and training alongside ICAR-ATARI and KVKs.

The signing ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Dr. Gautam, Dr. Aggarwal, ICAR Assistant Director General, Directors, Senior Scientists, and senior officials from ICAR Headquarters.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 17: The Indian Micro Fertilizers Manufacturers Association (IMMA) concluded its 4th National Crop Nutrition Summit in Mumbai, unveiling a series of agritech innovations that echo Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of revolutionizing Indian agriculture with drone technology. This landmark event marked the debut of sophisticated AI-driven drones and digital soil scanning technologies by pioneers Aries Agro Limited, Multiplex Drone, and many others, heralding a new dawn for farming efficiency and sustainability in India.

Dr. Rahul Mirchandani, President of IMMA, shared, “The technologies showcased at the summit are monumental in advancing toward a future where every farm in India can harness the efficiency and precision of AI and digitization. These innovations exemplify the transformative potential of agritech in enhancing crop yield, minimizing resource waste, and promoting sustainable farming practices.”

The event spotlighted various agri-tech solutions for precision farming, real-time crop monitoring, aerial spraying, and comprehensive data analytics. Meanwhile, Aries Agro introduced a revolutionary soil testing kit, offering instant and accurate soil health assessments to enable informed crop nutrition management.

“The integration of these advanced technologies into everyday farming practices is a testament to India’s readiness for a digital agricultural revolution,” stated Mr. Sameer Rajan Pathare, Vice President of IMMA. “Embracing agritech is pivotal for the sector’s growth, contributing significantly to national food security and environmental sustainability.”

The summit not only served as a platform for technological unveilings but also fostered critical discussions on ‘ease of doing business’ policies for enabling the innovative products to reach the market. A blockbuster panel of experts including industry, government, legal professionals and innovators discussed policies that will serve as catalysts for agri-tech adoption, liberalised licencing, export promotion and rural digital infrastructure development. These conversations underscored the necessity of supportive policy frameworks and public-private partnerships in achieving the widespread implementation of agritech solutions.

As the 4th National Crop Nutrition Summit concludes, the path forward for Indian agriculture is clear—embracing AI, digitization, and sustainable technologies is crucial for transforming the sector. IMMA remains committed to spearheading this change, advocating for policies that facilitate the adoption of agritech innovations, and working towards a future where technology-driven farming is the norm across India.

About Indian Micro Fertilizers Manufacturers Association (IMMA):

The Indian Micro Fertilizers Manufacturers Association (IMMA) is a leading organization committed to the advancement of India’s agricultural sector. Established with a vision to promote sustainable farming practices and innovative agritech solutions, IMMA plays a pivotal role in advocating policies that support the growth and development of the agro-industry. Through various initiatives, including conferences, summits, and collaborations, IMMA aims to empower farmers, influence policy-making, and contribute to a sustainable and prosperous agricultural future for India.

If you have any objection to this press release content, kindly contact pr.error.rectification@gmail.com to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 24 hours.

Gujarat, India: In a commendable initiative spanning nearly a decade, the Gujarat state government has disbursed more than ₹10,532 crore as financial aid to approximately 88.76 lakh farmers who faced crop losses owing to a series of natural calamities.

Breaking down the assistance year by year:

• In 2015-16, heavy and unseasonal rains wreaked havoc, affecting 1,82,041 farmers. A sum of ₹279.22 crore was released from the State Disaster Relief Fund to mitigate their losses.
• The subsequent year, 2017-18, witnessed heavy rains, floods, and soil erosion damaging the livelihoods of 7,69,570 farmers. The state promptly responded with a relief fund of ₹1,706.60 crore.
• In 2018-19, calamities continued with heavy rains, floods, and droughts affecting 17,59,614 farmers, for whom ₹1,678.09 crore was allocated.
• The year 2019-20 was no different, with unseasonal rains impacting 33,18,097 farmers. They received a consolidated assistance of ₹2,489.58 crore.
• Fast forward to 2020-21, heavy rains and floods led to crop damage for 19,03,575 farmers. The government's responsive action saw a disbursement of ₹2,905.97 crore in relief.
• The cyclonic storm in 2021-22 resulted in significant damage. A two-phase relief operation was launched, granting ₹1,240.58 crore to 7,67,330 affected farmers.
• Heavy rains again in 2022-23 led to economic losses for 1,38,691 farmers. An assistance of ₹147 crore was rendered by the state.
• The latest data from 2023-24 reports unseasonal rains affecting 37,045 farmers, who have since received an agricultural relief package amounting to ₹85.49 crore.

The recurring challenges posed by nature haven't deterred the state's commitment to its agrarian community. Over the past nine years, Gujarat's consistent and substantial relief efforts in response to natural calamities have culminated in an aid exceeding ₹10,000 crores, reaffirming its pledge to support its farmer community.

The state government of Gujarat ordered the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) to purchase onions from farmers to ensure they get affordable prices. However, a lack of communication has resulted in farmers in Rajkot struggling to sell their onions to NAFED. The government's press release only mentioned Mahuwa Yard, Gondal Yard, and Porbandar Yard, but not Rajkot old marketing yard. This omission meant that no farmers in the Rajkot yard had the necessary documentation to sell their onions to NAFED.

NAFED requires seven documents and onion sales photos to purchase onions, making it difficult for farmers without prior notice. As a result, by noon, not a single farmer's onion had been purchased in the Rajkot yard. The farmers found it more profitable to sell their onions in the open market, where the price of high-quality onions reached up to Rs 200 per kilogram. In comparison, NAFED was purchasing onions of 45mm quality at Rs 7.92 per kilogram.

NAFED officials explained that if the onions are of lower quality than 45mm, farmers will receive a lower price. However, farmers claim that they were not informed about these rules before arriving at the marketing yard, leaving them without any options to sell their produce.