Agriculture – Global Records India

Telangana teen researcher wins international award for developing organic insecticide

The extract of Ramphal leaves is effective against various insect and pests like, pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera, fall armyworm, spodoptera frugiperda, larvae, and green peach aphids.

Sarvesh Prabhu, a 17-year-old research intern at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), represented India at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta, USA and won the third prize in the biochemistry category. He was awarded $1,000 for developing a cost-effective bio-insecticide from the leaves of bullock’s heart, Annona reticulata, popularly known as Ramphal.

When asked what led him to such a discovery, he said, “During the lockdown, my sister did gardening as a hobby. All of our plants were getting eaten by insects before they could grow, resulting in a terrible harvest. While my sister wanted to use chemical insecticides, I was absolutely against them, which led me to find botanical insecticides as an alternative. Ramphal grows in our garden, and we noticed that it flourished when all other plants were struck by pests. Thus, began my project in the middle of the pandemic.”

The extract of Ramphal leaves is effective against various insects and pests like pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera, fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, larvae, and green peach aphids. Ramphal leaves were tested in a lab. The results showed a mortality range of 78-88 per cent.

He said, “One of my main goals was to make it cost-effective and easy to manufacture by the farmer themselves. The preparation process of the insecticide is simple and easy. The Ramphal tree is also commonly found across India. This botanical product is several times cheaper than most insecticides in the market.”

About winning the prestigious prize, he said, “It was truly a pursuit that I cannot forget. More than the prize, the journey was impactful. The friends I made, the knowledge I gained from previous research papers, and the skills I acquired from the experts at ICRISAT are invaluable.”

newindianexpress.com

Sethrichem Sangtam gets first Rohini Nayyar prize for rural development

His organisation ‘Better Life Foundation’ focusses on rural livelihood security, environment sustainability and education for change.

Sethrichem Sangtam, who helped triple the incomes of 1,200 marginalised farmers in Eastern Nagaland, was awarded the first Rohini Nayyar prize for outstanding contribution to rural development.

The prize awarded to an individual 40 years or under in age, was presented by the Niti Ayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery. The winner was selected by an eminent jury from civil society consisting of Dr. Ashok Khosla, founder, Development Alternatives; Dr. Rajesh Tandon, founder, PRIA; and Ms. Renana Jhabwala, national coordinator, SEWA.

Mr. Sangtam works with 1,200 marginalised farmers in Eastern Nagaland through his organisation ‘Better Life Foundation’, which focusses on rural livelihood security, environment sustainability and education for change.

Among his many achievements were encouraging farmers in the region to abandon wasteful slash, burn cultivation and move to permanent farming. The average income of the farmers tripled as a result of his interventions.

The prize had been instituted by the family of the late Dr. Rohini Nayyar, an eminent scholar-administrator who spent much of her professional life working on issues related to rural development in India.

Dr. Nayyar, a well-known economist and former principal adviser at the erstwhile Planning Commission, was one of India’s foremost authorities on rural development. She passed away in October 2021.

Developing India’s social and economic development

The prize will be given out annually by the Nayyar Foundation for Social and Economic Purpose, set up to contribute to the social and economic development in India.

While giving away the award, Mr. Bery said many initiatives for rural India which one saw around at present, like the aspirational districts programme, the development of multi-dimensional poverty index for India, and the digitisation to create financial inclusion in rural India, were results of the efforts by Dr. Rohini Nayyar and her team, while she was in the Planning Commission.

Dr Deepak Nayyar, director of the Foundation, said that during her more than two-decades-long stint in the Planning Commission she also worked on the conceptualisation of the MGNREGA.

thehindu.com

Himalayan yak gets FSSAI food animal tag

The categorisation is expected to check the decline in the population of the high-altitude bovine, the National Research Centre on Yak said.

The Himalayan yak has earned the food animal tag from the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).

The categorisation is expected to help check the decline in the population of the high-altitude bovine animal by making it a part of the conventional milk and meat industry.

Mihir Sarkar, the director of the National Research Centre on Yak (NRC-Y) based in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dirang, said his institution had submitted a proposal to the FSSAI in 2021 for considering the yak as a food animal.

The FSSAI responded with an official approval a few days ago after a recommendation from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

“The yak plays a multidimensional socio-cultural-economic role for the pastoral nomads who rear it mainly for earning their nutritional and livelihood security due to the lack of other agricultural activity in the higher reaches of the Himalayan region where it is difficult for animals except the yak to survive,” Mr. Sarkar said

Yaks are traditionally reared under a transhumance system which is primitive, unorganised and full of hardship. But the yak population in the country has been decreasing at an alarming rate, data provided by the NRC-Y said.

According to a census carried out in 2019, India has some 58,000 yaks – a drop of about 25% from the last livestock census conducted in 2012. Apart from the government and the local users, the drastic drop in the yak’s number has become a major cause of concern for animal genetic diversity conservationists.

The drastic decline in yak population could be attributed to less remuneration from the bovid, discouraging the younger generations from continuing with nomadic yak rearing. It is mainly because yak milk and meat are not a part of the conventional dairy and meat industry, their sale is limited to local consumers.

NRC-Y scientists believe the commercialisation of yak milk and meat products will lead to entrepreneurship development. But for that the yak has to be included as a food producing (milk and meat) animal in the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011, they said.

“The FSSAI’s recognition will help farmers rear the yak economically and open up several vistas of economic benefits for both farmers and food processors,” Mr. Sarkar said.

Nutrient-loaded

Research at the NRC-Y has revealed yak milk is highly nutritious, rich in fat, contains essential minerals and has medicinal values. According to the nutritional analysis, yak milk contains 78-82% water, 7.5-8.5% fat, 4.9-5.3% protein, 4.5-5.0% lactose and 12.3-13.4% solids-not-fat. The products which are traditionally produced from yak milk are churkum, churpi, ghee and paneer.

Mostly consumed locally, yak meat is known to be lean. The meat contains 74.8% moisture, 21.7% protein, 1.5% crude fat and 1.2% ash.

Specialists said yak husbandry needs to be more remunerative for attracting the younger generations.

“NRC-Yak has developed a semi-intensive model of yak-rearing in which yaks are maintained in an open area as well as in paddock round the year. Now that the yak is a food animal, this model can go a long way in making yak-rearing a commercial success,” Mr. Sarkar said.

thehindu.com

BHU IIT faculty wins in bamboo innovation challenge

Pradyut Dhar, an assistant professor at the School of Biochemical Engineering, IIT(BHU) Varanasi, is among the top five winners in prototype development stage category in the recently-conducted National Bamboo Innovation Challenge 2022.

The award was conferred to Dr Dhar and his team for the recent technological innovation and development in the bamboo sector which opens up new business opportunities for industries and start-ups.

The programme has been supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and managed by Finovista on behalf of the Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC).

Dhar said his team at the Laboratory of Chem Bio systems and Technology has been instrumental in working on the “SmartyBamboo” project which aims to develop high-performance products, using bamboo as base materials that can be easily translated at a commercial scale.

The objective is to promote bamboo as a sustainable material replacing the petroleum-based products as well as help improve the rural economy.

He said the “SmartyBamboo” project developed four kinds of bamboo based value-added products which help widen the applications of bamboo in various new sectors such as agriculture, smart textiles, healthcare, food packaging, automotive parts, glow road signals at night, smart building and high strength construction materials.

All the products are produced through green and sustainable chemical-based processes which are biodegradable in nature.

Most of the business opportunities for bamboo-based products are confined to the rural areas which reduces the potential market.

The developed bamboo-based products in this project can easily be translated to startups, companies or NGOs for production with help of low-skilled workers and, thereby, may improve the financial return for personnel involved in the sector.

Dhar further said that India is the world’s second largest producer of bamboo, however, the country’s share in the trade and commerce of bamboo-based products globally is merely about 4 per cent.

The advancement of such technological innovations both in terms of bamboo-based products and processing units, coupled with skill development is required to create an entire value chain which is supported through the National Bamboo Mission.

daijiworld.com

Saviour of indigenous seeds & farming style

Nekram Sharma, a modest farmer from Nanj village in Karsog valley in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, got the opportunity of his life when he was rejected from a government job in 1984. With 22 bighas of his family land lying unused, he started growing fruits, vegetables and experimented with organic farming before adopting ancient farming techniques as his sole way of farming.

What started as an alternate vocation grew into a full time occupation that led to saving of almost three dozen indigenous varieties of seeds. Now lovingly referred to as a ‘saviour’ of indigenous seeds by the villagers Nekram has adopted Nau-anaj (Nau is 9 and Anaj is crop) practice, an intercropping method in which nine food grains are grown on the same piece of land.

These crops are a combination of lentils, cereals, vegetables, legumes and creepers. His crops are from the indigenous seeds given to him by his elders. Nekram cultivates foxtail millet, maize, finger millet, buckwheat, Amaranthus rajma, urad dal, moong and beans. “In a year one can grow 18 crops (9 Kharif) and (9 Rabi). This cropping pattern has multiple benefits as it raises fertility level of the ground but consumes less water wi th zero input s costs.

Since 2002, he has worked on preserving not only the traditional style of farming but also managed to produce indigenous seeds of all local varieties for future generations. There are around 20 indigenous seeds, including eight types of millets, three varieties of wheat, besides promoting intercropping system. “When I was 25 years old, a public movement had started to save forests.

My elders lamented that the indigenous seeds are also slowly vanishing from the market which made me think. I did some research and realized that these seeds had more nutrition in them than what was available and was in use by all the farmers here. I then started collecting and sowing these indigenous seeds in my own fields,” Nekram says. “The farmers called me mad and taunted me for saving trees and indigenous seeds. But I did get support from few of my friends,” the 59-yearold adds.

With the support from his friends, Nekram approached experts to connect the revival of the indigenous seeds with its health benefits besides from good yields under adverse conditions. Several panchayat meetings were spent on making the farmers understand the value and benefits of the indigenous seeds. Now, Netram also has an indigenous seed bank through which he preserves and distributes the seeds to the farmers. Nekram says that he request farmers to grow traditional seeds along with hybrid seeds of they do not want to sow traditional seeds alone.

In 2010, when he implemented Nau-Anaj practice, it inspired other farmers in the region as well and thus Parvatiye Tikau Kheti Abhiyan (PTKA) a co-operative of farmers was formed. Since then, thousands of farmers have connected with him with demands coming from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Ghaziabad, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and even Hyderabad. While farmers usually come and visit him to take the seeds but those who can’t, request him for a courier, which he gladly obliges.

nie

India’s milk output to jump 3-fold to 628 mn tn in 25 years: Amul MD R S Sodhi

India’s milk production is expected to jump three-fold to 628 million tonnes in the next 25 years with an average annual growth of 4.5 per cent, said R S Sodhi, Managing Director of Amul on Monday.

The country’s milk production was 210 million tonnes in 2021, according to the MD of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets dairy products under the Amul brand.

“Milk production in India is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5 per cent to reach 628 million tonnes in the next 25 years,” he said while giving a presentation on the outlook of the Indian dairy sector over the next 25 years.

Sodhi was speaking at the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS) 2022, organised at India Expo Centre & Mart here on September 12.

India’s share in global production is estimated to nearly double from 23 per cent to 45 per cent now in the next 25 years.

Sodhi also mentioned that the demand is also set to increase because of the rising population.

“The demand for milk is expected to rise to 517 million tonnes in the next 25 years, leaving an export surplus of 111 million tonnes,” he added.

The GCMMF MD said that the per capita availability of milk in India will increase to 852 grams per day in the next 25 years from 428 grams per day in 2021.

Sodhi highlighted that India’s dairy sector has the most efficient supply chain in the world.

The packaging and transportation costs for supplying milk to consumers are very less compared to the global average.

nie

Award for neera technician

Dilip Kumar, a Neera technician trained by the Coconut Mission of the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) and working at the Centre of Advanced Agriculture Science and Technology (CAAST), a project of KAU, has been awarded the best Neera Technician in the national level.

The award was instituted as part of World Coconut Day celebrations by the Coconut Development Board.

Govt awards GI tag to Mithila Makhana for ‘farmer’s profit’

Once a product gets this tag, any person or company cannot sell a similar item under that name. This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.

The government has awarded Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Mithila Makhana, a move which is expected to help growers get the maximum price for their premium produce.

“Mithila Makhana registered with GI Tag, farmers will get profit and it will be easier to earn. Due to Geographical Indication Tag to Mithila Makhana in the festive season, people outside Bihar will be able to use this auspicious material with reverence,” Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in a tweet.

Once a product gets this tag, any person or company cannot sell a similar item under that name. This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.

The other benefits of GI registration include legal protection to that item, prevention against unauthorised use by others, and promoting exports.

Israeli Technology launches Clear Black STP in India, helping save 40 per cent water

Huliot Pipes, an Israeli company operating from Vadodara, Gujarat in India, and over 30 countries worldwide, is a pioneer in Certified Green Pipes Technology; it has launched ClearBlack Sewage Treatment Plant customised for the Indian market for wastewater recycling and reuse.

Water recycling is the need of the hour for resolving the pollution of water bodies, maintaining a healthy groundwater table and avoiding the overuse of fresh water for domestic purposes. The recycled water can be used for flushing toilets, floor cleaning, gardening, car washing and industrial purposes, saving 40 per cent of water demand and lower water bills. Water saving is an intelligent investment for our future generations.

Miki Kedem – CEO of Huliot Pipes, says, “Our pilot program with the Vadodara Municipal Corporation for 100 KLD has been very successful. The MBR technology used in ClearBlack is the most effective water treatment, and the STP is manufactured at our Vadodara factory. We will launch ClearBlack across 20 states in India on the 15th of August; to help India save water and recycle it for multiple uses.”

ClearBlack STP system is IOT enabled, which can be monitored on a smartphone from any location. The application is developed for Android and iOS. There is no requirement to keep 24/7 manpower to monitor it. The power consumption is low and has minimum chemical composition. It takes the lowest footprint and saves construction costs.

It is unique as it can be integrated with the current STP system. Huliot provides 24/7 technical support and skilled manpower for quick service on-site. Moreover, the Decentralized STPs can be supplied in containers, making them mobile and portable. Larger units can be installed using civil construction with the same IOT control system.

nie

ICAR develops vaccine for Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle

As of August 8, the disease has spread to Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar and Uttarakhand

In a major breakthrough, two institutes of Agri research body ICAR have developed an indigenous vaccine for Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle which has spread across many States in the last few months.

The Centre plans to commercialise this vaccine, developed by the two institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), at the earliest in order to control the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), which has led to the death of cattle in six States.

As of August 8, Rajasthan has reported 2,111 deaths of cattle, followed by Gujarat at 1,679, Punjab at 672, Himachal Pradesh at 38, Andaman & Nicobar at 29 and Uttarakhand at 26.

ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines (ICAR-NRCE), Hisar (Haryana), in collaboration with ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh has developed a homologous live-attenuated LSD vaccine “Lumpi-ProVacInd”.

The new technology was released by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala at an event held in the national capital.