Agriculture News at a Glance: January Highlights

1. Union Minister Unveils State-of-the-Art Mega Dairy for Sustainable Dairy Farming

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a Rs. 260 crore Mega Dairy in Mandya, Karnataka. With the capacity to process 10-14 lakh litres of milk per day, this facility is expected to bring prosperity to the homes of thousands of farmers in Karnataka. The state already has 15,210 village-level cooperative dairies and 16 district-level dairies, which provide a regular source of income to over 26 lakh farmers daily. The addition of Mega Dairy is a significant step towards boosting the dairy industry in the state.

2. India’s First Mobile IVF Unit for Animals Takes the Field

India has launched its first-ever mobile IVF unit for animals in Amreli, Gujarat, intending to improve livestock breeding. Jointly developed by the Government of India and Amar Dairy, the IVF mobile van is equipped with advanced technology that will improve the quality of livestock, increase productivity, and help conserve rare species. The mobile unit was inaugurated by Union Minister Purushottam Rupala and is expected to benefit farmers in remote areas by providing access to modern reproductive technologies.

3. Garuda Aerospace and Rallis India Join Hands

Garuda Aerospace which has 400 drones and a well-trained 500 pilots joins forces with Rallis India to leverage their strengths in drone technology and distribution networks respectively. The partnership is set to revolutionize the agriculture industry in India, helping farmers with crop monitoring, yield prediction and pest control.

4. Sugar Season 2021-22 Yields More Than 5000 LMT Sugarcane

In Sugar Season 2021-22, India produced over 5000 LMT of sugarcane, with sugar mills crushing 3574 LMT to produce 394 Lakh MT of sugar. 36 Lakh MT sugar was used for ethanol, while 359 LMT sugar was produced by mills.

5. MoU between Bihar and FSI for TOF Field Survey to Boost Agroforestry

The Bihar government has signed an MoU with the FSI to conduct a two-month ‘Trees Outside Forest’ (TOF) field survey to promote agroforestry and provide additional income to farmers. The survey will identify the dominant tree species growing outside recorded forest areas in all 38 districts of Bihar. At least 150 to 170 plots in each district will be surveyed.

6. Jammu and Kashmir Launch Massive Rs. 879-Crore Food Processing Project

The Jammu and Kashmir government is investing in an ambitious project aimed at transforming the food processing sector and improving the livelihoods of farmers in the UT. The project focuses on increasing the competitiveness of seven identified products across categories through value addition, logistics, marketing and branding. The plan includes developing processing and marketing infrastructure across 17 districts and providing growth opportunities to stakeholders. The government has allocated a budget of Rs 879.75 crore, including a grant-in-aid of Rs 293.25 crore and a debt-equity of Rs 586.50 crore to be raised by entrepreneurs.

7. Godrej Agrovet’s Samadhan brings relief to farmers, earns IPOS certification

Godrej Agrovet Ltd. has launched Samadhan, a unique initiative for oil palm farmers to enhance their productivity and profitability. This one-stop solution centre will provide global best practices to farmers and help them avail of developmental finance, government subsidies and other benefits. Furthermore, Godrej Agrovet Ltd., has become the first Indian company to be awarded a verification Certificate under the Indian Palm Oil Sustainability (IPOS) Framework.