Agriculture - Current Affairs for October, 2015

Country’s total cotton output has been pegged at 370.50 lakh bales for 2015-2016 commencing October 1st, according to an industrial body, CAI or Cotton Association of India. This is 12.25 lakh bales less than 382.75 lakh bales for the cotton season 2014-2015. Impact of this fall in crop will be softened by highest ever opening stock at the commencement of 2015-2016. Domestic consumption of cotton is also on the decline. Crop damage in the northern zone due to the white fly disease has become a major cause for concern. Total crop adjudged in the northern zone equals 47 lakh bales for this year as against 53.50 lakh bales last year. Projected balance sheet drawn by CAI assesses the estimated cotton value for the season to be 463.15 lakh bales as against 53.50 lakh bales in 2014. Projected balance sheet by CAI estimates total cotton output supply at 463.15 lakh bales while consumption is pegged at 325.00 lakh bales leaving additional amount of 138.15 lakh bales.

Adani Group firm on 19th October 2015 formed a pact with IPGA or Indian Pulses Grains Association to ensure commodity handling across its ports for seamless availability of lentils across India. India’s largest port developer Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone has signed a MoU with IPGA for handling pulses across ports. Pact aims at developing dedicated and efficient supply chain for pulses through port facilities to key consumption centres in the nation. India imports close to 5 million tonnes of pulses each year for domestic consumption mainly from Australia, Canada and around the Black Sea. Adani Group is a leading business house in India. It generates revenue of USD 10 billion and owns and operates 7 ports and terminals in various parts of the country. This group crossed the 14 million tonne mark of cargo handling in FY 2014-2015.

India aims to promote a new variety of custard apple called Arka Sahan which was developed by IIHR Bengaluru in a span of 17 years. Said to be unbeatable in terms of nutritional value, size and shelf life, this is not pure Sitaphal but a new fruit comprising 75% of the former and 25% cherimoya. Fruit gets its name from Arkavati river flowing close to IIHR Bengaluru. From the nutritional point of view, the new variety of custard apple contains 87% more crude protein, 249% greater phosphorous and 42% more calcium compared to custard apple. It can be cultivated in hot dry regions such as Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. It has few seeds and ripe fruit is firm along with longer shelf life. This is 25% larger than the typical custard apple.

Black rice is grown in Manipur where it is called Chakhao amubi. It is also known as purple or forbidden rice. Its botanical name is Oryza Sativa L. This little known rice variety has entered world markets through China which cultivates it for consumption and export. IARI has promoted black rice because it has medicinal value and is rich in disease fighting antioxidants apart from being anti-cancerous. It is also much in dietary fibre and is said to have anti-inflammatory properties, apart from providing relief from diabetes and heart disease. Government of India promotes 7 other lesser known rice varieties namely Kalanamak, Palakkadan Matta, Navara, Pokkali, Wayanad Jeerakasala, Kaipad and Wahanad Gandhankasala.

BSI scientists have found a new species of banana named Musa Indandamanensis from a remote tropical rain forest on the Andaman Islands. The species was located around 16 km within the Krishna Nalah forest in the island. This banana species has unique green flowers and fruit bunch axis thrice the size of a regular banana. Fruit pulp of this banana species is orange in colour as against yellow and white of regular bananas. Trees of the species are close to 11 metres high as against height of 3 to 4 metres for regular species. Unlike other banana species, seeds can be used for germinating new plants. Currently, there are 52 species of bananas occurring in the wild of which 15 are located in India.

The first Anaj bank or Food grain bank has been started to help poor families who find it hard to get two meals in a day. Bank was opened by NGO Vishal Bharat Sansthan under pet bharo-campaign in Hukugunj area on the first day of Navratri. To support poor families, each will be given 5 kg rice, 1 kg atta, 1 kg salt every month for a year. A person can open a bank account by depositing 5 kg of food grain and get satisfaction and innovation as interest.

Unicorn, a term proposed by venture investor Aileen Lee for describing startups valued at USD 1 billion or more is becoming a buzzword in tech entrepreneurism. Currently, Bengaluru is the unicorn capital of the country, home to 5 of 8 unicorns namely MuSigma, Quikr, InMobi, Ola and Flipkart. New Delhi has the remaining unicorn Indian firms namely Snapdeal, Zomato and Paytm. Worldwide, there are around 140 unicorns valued at USD 503 billion. E-commerce major Flipkart is at the top of the chain in India with a valuation of USD 15 billion. Bengaluru offers a tech first culture and early mover advantage for unicorn startups.

Minister of State for Agriculture in India, Mr. Kundariya in a meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart discussed latest agricultural initiatives in India including soil health cards to be given to 140 million farmers and special irrigation schemes The sides agreed to collaborate in research and agricultural technology. They also agreed that Lithuanian delegation comprising of senior executives of the Ministry, scientists and business representatives would visit India to take forward the conversations. A bilateral agreement on agricultural cooperation was also signed during the visit.

Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare on 5th October launched KISAN Project [C(K)rop Insurance using Space technology And geoiNformatics] of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & FW, Ministry of Agriculture and FW. This uses Space Technology and geoinformatics (GIS, GPS and Smartphone) technology as well as high resolution data from UAV/Drone based imaging for improvement in yield estimation and better planning of Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs). This is vital for crop insurance programmes. The KISAN project will be implemented by Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC), in partnership with ISRO Centres (Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad & National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad), India Meteorological Department, CCAFS, State Agriculture Departments and State Remote Sensing Centres.

Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.], which figured among the six small millets in research portfolio of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), has now been formally announced as the mandate crop. Finger millet provides opportunities for small holders, and ICRISAT gene bank has nearly 6000 finger millet germ plasm accessions from 24 nations. This crop is an integral part of the ICRISAT portfolio. Following its declaration as a mandate crop, it has led consumers to improved nutrition and offers much economic opportunity which is why it has been given prominence. Harnessing Opportunities for Productivity Enhancement of Sorghum and Millets in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (HOPE) project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is showing encouraging results in improving productivity of finger millet and household incomes in East Africa. In Malawi, a three finger millet variety will resurrect crops that disappeared from the southern region of the nation. Finger millet variety U15 is the most preferred for rapid maturity and grain colour while IE 3779 is preferred because of disease resistance. Other mandate crops of ICRISAT include sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeon-pea and groundnut.