New High Tech Centre Launched to Climate-Proof Crop Production

Western Sydney University, the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) Bangalore and the Indian Institute for Spices Research (IISR) Calicut, have partnered to launch a Centre in High Tech Protected Cropping Systems to address the impact of the changing climate on crop production.

The Centre will investigate hi-tech aeroponic crop production, crop health monitoring technologies with advanced sensors and cameras and ways to standardise pollination as part of a pilot, with a focus on innovation in aeroponics for high value crops such as microgreens, berries, cutflowers and spices under different lighting and nutrient conditions.

“This is an important pilot for finding cost effective farming that is not climate dependent,” the Deputy Director General of ICAR, A K Singh said. “Production using automated glass house technology is too expensive for the large-scale adoption in India. Working with Western Sydney University and other partners, we have an opportunity to bring together world class researchers from Australia and India to standardise production systems for high value crops like berries, greens, cut flowers and spices,” he said.

Officials from ICAR, IIHR, IISR and Western Sydney University launch a Centre in High Tech Protected Cropping Systems

“The collaboration builds on the very productive partnership between the University and the Indian Council for Agricultural Research,” said Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO. “Through cutting edge research, the Centre will explore new, sustainable approaches to production to enhance food security and farming livelihood,” said Professor Glover.

“This partnership in vegetables, berries and cut flowers at the IIHR and in spices at the IISR, plays a critical role in developing efficient, low-cost vertical growing systems for large scale adoption - sustainable farming technologies for the future,” said Dr Debi Sharma, Director, IIHR.

Dr Thankamony, Director IISR said, “Vertical farming can ensure high productivity in spaces per unit area, which means 50-60 per cent more harvest per unit area. However, these resources can only be effectively leveraged when adapted to Indian conditions, requiring a targeted research and development program.”

The Centre in High Tech Protected Cropping Systems will address increasing the farming community’s produce and thereby their income. The research programs will be managed by Dr Debi Sharma, Director, IIHR, Dr Thankamoni, Director, IISR and Dr Nisha Rakhesh, Senior Advisor (Research Strategy), Western Sydney University.

Western Sydney University was recently ranked number one in the world for its social, ecological and economic impact in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.

As part of its global mission, it is committed to collaborating with industry, education and non-government partners to tackle society’s grand challenges and support a more just and equitable world through teaching, research, outreach and stewardship.

Western Sydney University began operations on 1st January 1989, under the terms of the University of Western Sydney Act, 1988 which had been passed by the New South Wales Parliament in December 1988. Located in Western Sydney, the heart of the nation's third largest economy and one of the fastest growing population and employment centres in Australia, the University offers unlimited potential to students with the talent, drive and ambition to succeed. Ranked amongst the top two per cent of universities in the world, Western Sydney University values academic excellence, integrity and the pursuit of knowledge. The University is globally focused, research-led and committed to making a positive impact on the communities it engages with.

BIPA, A Trade Body of BioAgri Input Producers in India is Organizing the BioAgri 2022 International Conference in Hyderabad with the theme “India: Global Gateway for BioAg Solutions

The Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, several ICAR Institutions, PJTSAU, research organizations and 150 plus companies to take part.

BIPA, a 19 years old, Hyderabad based trade body of BioAgri Input Producers in India is organizing 2nd Edition of BioAgri 2022 International Conference in the city from October 19 to 20, for two days at Hotel Park Hyatt, Banjara Hills. It is the biggest Bio Agri Solutions Conference and Exhibition.

Disclosing this in a press note issued in Hyderabad, Dr.Venkatesh Devnur, General Secretary, BIPA(BioAgri Inputs Producers Association) said the theme of the two day meet will be “India: Global Gateway for BioAg solutions”.

BioAgri is an international series of conferences and exhibitions initiated by BIPA last year at Hyderabad. And it has been a grand success with a participation of 150 companies from India and abroad involved in production and supply of biological agri inputs for sustainable agriculture, informed Dr. Venkatesh Devnbur.

World agriculture moves towards biological agriculture due to climate resilience and the ill effects of chemical-based farming practices. Among all the input verticals, a phenomenal growth is witnessed in BioAgri inputs. The economic benefits to the farmers, health benefits to the consumers and safety to the environment ensure BioAgri inputs as the most sought-after products. Their sustained use, further rebuilds the soil health, fertility and make them carbon rich; thus, becoming an inevitable tool in modern agriculture, added Dr Venkatesh. .

India became a pioneer in world agriculture to innovate, standardize and promote world class Agri-Inputs through its well-defined regulatory framework, infrastructure and technology knowhow, he shared.

BioAgri 2022 brings the National and International Agro-Chemical manufacturers/ traders under one roof on recent technologies, delivery systems, and business opportunities in India and across the globe. The Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, Several ICAR Institutions, PJTSAU and other research organizations are participating in this two day event in Hyderabad.

The two days conference and expo deliberates on policy issues and technological advantages and challenges by the stakeholders besides showcasing innovations and tech based products by the companies promoting biological agriculture for safe food, health and environment

Govt Pushes Agricultural Drone Usage, To Offer Subsidy and Grants for Drone Purchases

Last year in September, the central government announced incentives of Rs.120 crore, which will be given in next 3 years, under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drones and drone components manufacturer. In the same month, civil aviation minister launched India’s 1st Medicine Delivery from Drone project called ‘Medicines From The Sky’ in Telangana.

Now in a latest, the central government is aiming agriculture sector with a major boost to promote precision farming in India,. For the same, the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued guidelines to make drone technology affordable to the stakeholders of farming sector. 

The guidelines of “Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization” (SMAM) have been amended which envisages granting up to 100% of the cost of agriculture drone or Rs. 10 lakhs, whichever is less, as grant for purchase of drones by the Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes, ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and State Agriculture Universities for taking up large scale demonstrations of this technology on the farmers’ fields.

The Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) would be eligible to receive grant up to 75% of the cost of agriculture drone for its demonstrations on the farmers’ fields.

A contingency expenditure of Rs.6,000 per hectare would be provided to implementing agencies that do not want to purchase drones but will hire drones for demonstrations from Custom Hiring Centres, Hi-tech Hubs, Drone Manufacturers and Startups. The contingent expenditure would be limited to Rs.3000 per hectare for implementing agencies that purchase drones for drone demonstrations. 

The financial assistance and grants would be available until March 31, 2023.

In order to provide agricultural services through drone application, 40% of the basic cost of drone and its attachments or Rs.4 lakhs, whichever less would be available as financial assistance for drone purchase by existing Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) which are set up by Cooperative Society of Farmers, FPOs and Rural entrepreneurs. 

The new CHCs or the Hi-tech Hubs that will be established by the Cooperative Societies of Farmers, FPOs and Rural entrepreneurs with financial assistance from SMAM, RKVY or any other Schemes can also include Drone as one of the machines along with other agricultural machines in the projects of CHCs/Hi-tech Hubs.

Agriculture graduates establishing Custom Hiring Centers would be eligible to receive 50% of the basic cost of drone and its attachments or up to Rs.5 lakhs in grant support for drone purchases. Rural entrepreneurs should have passed class tenth examination or its equivalent from a recognized Board; and should have remote pilot license from Institute specified by the Director General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) or from any authorized remote pilot training organization.

The subsidized purchase of agriculture drones for CHCs/Hi-tech Hubs will make the technology affordable, resulting in their widespread adoption. This would make drones more accessible to the common man in India and will also significantly encourage domestic drone production.

The drone operations are being permitted by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) through the conditional exemption route. MoCA has published ‘Drone Rules 2021’ vide GSR No. 589(E) dated 25th August 2021 to regulate the use and operation of Drones in India. 

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has also brought out Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for use of Drone application with pesticides for crop protection in agricultural, forestry, non-cropped areas, etc. and for Drone Application in Spraying for Soil and Crop Nutrients. The demonstrating institutions and all the providers of agricultural services through drone application have to comply with these rules/regulations and SOPs.

Agri-Research Body ICAR Signs Agreement with Patanjali Institute (PBRI) for Research, Training and Education.

The country's premier agri-research body ICAR on Sunday signed an agreement with Hardiwar-based Patanjali Bio Research Institute (PBRI) to undertake research work as well as training and education.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Trilochan Mohapatra and PBRI CEO Acharya Balkrishna in the presence of Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, an official statement said.

Junior Agriculture Ministers Parshottam Rupala and Kailash Choudhary were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, Tomar emphasised that the venture will provide a new opportunity to include new arena to work for both the organisations.

He also urged for promoting organic farming practices across the country.

As per the MoU, the specific plans will be developed to work on collaborative research programmes in areas of national interest related to sustainable agriculture development suitable to different agro-ecologies of the country.

ICAR and PBRI will collaborate in mutually identified areas of training and education where the post graduate students of deemed universities and research institutes of ICAR may undertake internships in various areas of specialization with PBRI.

ICAR said it will assist PBRI in technology demonstration, capacity building, seed production for scaling up popular varieties developed by ICAR and transferring them among the farming community of the country.

The MoU aims to foster close interaction in research, capacity building, seed production, entrepreneurship and skill development, the statement added. PTI LUX