Agritech india newspaper - October Issue 2012

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News

AgriTech India October 2012

DeLaval to participate in EuroTier 2012 Farm mechanization on upswing, foreign players eye vast market

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eLaval has announced it will be present in EuroTier this fall, the world’s largest trade show dedicated to agriculture. EuroTier 2012 will take place during November 13-16, in the German city of Hanover.

DeLaval is a leading supplier of solutions that improve the performance of farms for professional food producers. It was founded more than 125 years ago in Sweden, when the visionary Gustaf de Laval patented the cream separator. Today, DeLaval has 4500 employees and operates in more than 100 markets.

DeLaval, alongside Tetra Pak and Sidel, is part of the Tetra Laval Group.

“Our focus for this edition is Farm Management. Our goal is to create an exhibition display to illustrate how to really bring an entire dairy farm and all its resources together under the same management thought process,” DeLaval Vice President Marketing and Communications Benoit Passard said.

“Highlights of the event will be taking the wraps off a new robot and showing advanced analysis instruments, among many other products and solutions. But our ambition is to explain how all these tools are elements farmers can use to integrate information, production objectives and long term plans for their business whilst managing their cow’s health and welfare, including reducing environmental

impacts. That is Farm Management for us, and the key to making sustainable food production possible,” he said.

In the business of dairy farming every decision matters, every detail counts. Passard explained why it is all about Farm Management -or, in other words, knowledge and technology.

“Take liners for example. Some people may look at them and only see pieces of rubber. But developing a liner involves designers, materials and testing engineers, milk performance and lactation experts, as well as farmers. Without that research liners simply can’t secure milking performance while ensuring the health of the herd,” he said.

“We want farmers and EuroTier visitors at large to stop by our booth, talk to us, and leave with the conviction that DeLaval offers the best consumables, fully integrated systems, automation, service and partnership in the market today,” he said.

The DeLaval EuroTier 2012 booth will be a state-of-the art platform where dairy farmers will be able to meet some of the world’s most passionate dairy experts and explore ways to get more out their operations.

According to information supplied

by EuroTier organizer DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society), EuroTier 2010 registered some 140,000 visitors and more than 1,700 exhibitors from 46 countries participated in the four-day exhibition. EuroTier showcases the latest technologies and advances in the agricultural industry from around the world, and attracts farmers, industry professionals, advisors, dealers, traders, veterinarians, academia and research experts.

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oreign farm equipment manufacturers are taking a closer look at the Indian market at a time when rural economy is thriving and farmhands are difficult to get while use of technology is very limited. Lemken, the German farm equipment manufacturer, inaugurated its first manufacturing facility outside Europe at Nagpur this month. Italian farm equipment manufacturer Maschio Gaspardo recently set up its manufacturing unit at Ranjangaon near Pune.

Industry sources say that at least two to three foreign companies are likely to set up manufacturing units in India in the next three to four years, bringing in an investment of about 700 crore. The 3,000-crore Indian farm equipment sector is largely concentrated in the unorganised sector.

The use of non-tractor farm equipment in India is still very limited, which is why Indian farm mechanisation is called as tractorisation.

Mahindra, the leader of the 26,000-crore Indian tractor market, has its own manufacturing of farm mechanisation solutions.

Lemken has only assembling plants in China and Russia. The Nagpur plant has a capacity to manufacture 3,000 units in a year in the first phase. “With the expansion of the second phase, the capacity will increase to 5,000 units a year,” said Lemken India Agro managing director and chief executive officer Arvind Kumar.

The company has invested Rs 60 crore on the first phase and plans an equal investment in the second phase. Lemken will import the special steel required for its implements. The equipment manufactured in India will be 40% cheaper than those made in Germany.

Demand for farm equipment is growing in India because of a robust rural economy, government subsidies, farm labour shortage, improved availability of farm credit and custom hiring.

Eurasia & Animalexpo 2012

592 participants from 50 countries gather to grab opportunities

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groexpo Eurasia International Agriculture, Greenhouse and Livestock Exhibition, Animalexpo International Livestock Technologies and Dairy Industry Exhibition were held on 20-23 September, 2012, at İzmir International Fair Center, Turkey.

This was the 8th edition of Agroexpo Eurasia and 4th edition of Animalexpo

Agroexpo Eurasia International Agriculture.

The concurrent event was Greenhouse and Livestock Exhibition which has the distiction of being the first choice of exhibitors of Europe and nearest regions. It is also one of the largest International Agriculture shows of Turkey.

The popular events, attended by top names of industry, were inaugrated by vice president of CHP Gökhan Günaydın, commission member of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural and AKP Izmir constituency deputy Ali Aşlık, CHP İzmir deputy Mehmet Ali Susam, İzmir vice governor Mehmet Suat İlhan, Vice President of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Vekili Sırrı Aydoğan, Izmir Food, Agriculture and Livestock Provincial Director Ahmet Güldal, Chairman of İzmir Agriculture chambers province Coordination Council Süleyman Yeşil, chairman of the board of Orion Fair Fatih Tan. The Agriculture and Livestock city of İzmir, which is hosting this big event, attracted great attention from Turkish farmers, farm owners and industry professionals, and thousands of visitors.

The Fair, which was visited by 126812 people, has an exhibition area of 45,000 m2. Tractors and spare parts, greenhouse, seed, seedling, seedlings, fertilizer, pharmaceutical industry, irrigation and the plastics industry, animal husbandry, livestock production machinery, veterinary services and animal health companies were the participants at the fair.

There were 592 participants from 50 countries. More than 40 trade missions from India, Kazakhstan, Serbia, USA, Holland, Russia, Canada, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Senegal, Ethiopia, Armenia, Romania, Spain, Italy, Australia, Ukraine, Ghana, Morocco, Algeria and Latvia visited the fair to be part of the on-the-spot opportunities.

Local Products Local Products Exhibition held in an open area with field of İzmir Agriculture and Livestock Fairs would leave long-lasying impression. Promotion of local products which were specific to İzmir, was made to the all visitors at the stands held by İzmir Food, Agriculture and Livestock Managements, Chambers of Agriculture, District and Sectoral Co-operatives .

Cattle and Ovine Cattle and Ovine Livestock Exhibition was also a big hit at Izmir. There were bulls, heifers, cows, Saanen goats, gum, sheep, goats, cattle and sheep. They were exhibited by Izmir Sheep - Goat Breeders Association , Cattle Breeders Association of Izmir, Turkey Cattle Breeders’ Association.

Sectoral Information Seminars During the fair, ‘The Importance of Organic Farming Natural Zeolites as Entry / New Approaches for Ovines Nutrition, Composting and its Benefits, Business Blindness, Acidosis, Transformation of Animal Wastes to Fodder, Early Lactation in Cattle Feed, Calf diarrhea, Nutrition and Care, Introduction of Eti Bor Mining and Usage Mining in Agriculture, Electronic Identification and Professional Herd Management, Organicul-I Microbial Fertilizer, Animal Farms insects – Importance of Struggle with horn flies and Importance of Laboratory Diagnosis in Animal Diseases, and Livestock Breeding topics were discussed by the experts. n

News

AgriTech India October 2012

Food Security

Urban farming should be promoted aggressively

– Rana Kapoor

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ew of us might be aware that 2008 was the first year in history, when the world’s urban population (more than three billion), exceeded the number of those living in rural areas. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), by 2020, the developing countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America will be home to some 75 per cent of all urban dwellers.

The situation in India is no different. Indian cities are home to an estimated 340 million people, almost equivalent to 30 per cent of the total population. As evident in majority of the industrialised countries, India is experiencing a shift over time from a largely rural and agrarian population residing in villages to urban, nonagriculture centres.

Rapid urbanisation in developing nations is accompanied by a rapid increase in urban poverty and urban food insecurity. This scenario is further aggravated by the fact that high food inflation, which by now is a global phenomenon, is expected to continue.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates, by 2050, global food demand will increase by 70 per cent in order to feed the global population of 9.3 billion. This is going to put tremendous pressure on already scarce land and water resources implying an urgent need for an alternative way to combat food shortages. Urban agriculture, although not a panacea for food insecurity, has the potential to provide millions with some secure access to food.

What is Urban Agriculture?

According to FAO urban agriculture can be defined as: “An industry that produces, processes and markets food and fuel, largely in response to the daily demand of consumers within a town, city, or metropolis, on land and water dispersed throughout the urban and peri-urban area, applying intensive production methods, using and reusing natural resources and urban wastes to yield a diversity of crops and livestock.”

Along with the urbanisation process, particularly in developed nations, urban agriculture has evolved from a simple, traditional and informal activity into a commercial and professional initiative and a key element in food security strategies.

Urban agriculture was officially recognised by the 15th FAO-COAG (Council of Australian Governments) session in Rome during January 1999 and subsequently at the World Food Summit in 2002.

Advantages of Urban Agriculture Easy access to fresh, nutritious food for lower income consumers, and income generation potential.

Supply to urban food markets, street food and food processing, providing additional employment and income.

Water harvesting, water re-use, and urban wastes re-cycling to provide water, animal feed and fertilisers to provide for the requirements of urban agriculture.

Integration of urban agriculture with urban greening programmes which can provide fuelwood for urban residents, reduce urban pollution and temperatures, as well as offer recreation opportunities to improve quality of life for all urban residents Urban Agriculture – The Indian Context.

Urban agriculture in India is just witnessing the beginning with few initiatives in some of the cities, such as: - Composting and vermiculture (prominent in cities such as Kolkata and Chennai) - Advances in dairying/animal husbandry in urban and peri-urban areas (Bangalore) - Urban Agro-forestry (Hyderabad) - Horticulture production activities in cities (Delhi) and - Terrace farming in Mumbai In Hyderabad, it was found that households that produce vegetables saved 20 per cent of their total food expenditures by retaining part of the produce for household consumption.

As India progresses towards a rapid phase of urbanisation and as the concept of sustainable

cities becomes increasingly acceptable, there are opportunities to build environmentally and economically sound urban agriculture systems, involving waste and water management that can be incorporated from the beginning itself and make it an integral part of urban planning.

Urban agriculture is probably the most efficient tool available which can help manage city’s waste by utilising it for food cultivation and creating jobs. It creates a diverse ecology where fruit trees, vegetable plantations and even fishing, etc. could coexist and build a wholly ecologically sustainable scenario. In India, the concept is still at nascent stage and there is a need for greater awareness about urban agriculture. Sociallyoriented enterprises can play a significant role to diffuse knowledge-intensive techniques in this area.

The Government at the same time should facilitate urban agriculture through different various bodies such as municipalities, cooperative societies etc.

Land policies in and around cities need to be designed in such a way that it accepts agriculture as a legitimate usage of land. Urban agriculture has to be integrated in the agriculture policies and urban planning; and should, therefore, be brought under the purview of regulatory framework. Similar to the different countries such as China, Australia, the US, South America, Europe, etc. where targets have been set to make cities greener and sustainable, India should also promote urban agriculture which is necessary for the sustainability of its bursting cities and people.

(The author is Founder, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, YES Bank.)

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Sugar traders eye festival time to make profit

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ugar prices at the Vashi wholesale market declined by Rs 20 in spot and Rs 20-30 at naka level. Mill tender rates dropped by Rs 20 for S–grade and Rs 40 for M-grade on increased selling and weak futures markets.

Volume was routine in physical market but eased at mill level due to month end.

Mood was positive as traders were optimistic about higher retail demand next month.

Meanwhile, the Government has declared 40 lakh tonnes of open sale quota, for October and November.

Jagdish Rawal, a Vashi-based wholesaler, said the new open sale quota is sufficient to meet the expected higher demand in next two months.

On Wednesday, Maharashtra’s mills sold one rail rake – about 27,000 bags of S-grade to neighbouring states over and above normal local sales.

In the last five days, five rail rakes of sugar were covered by the neighbouring States indicate higher festival demand.

The Centre has released four lakh tonnes of additional open sale sugar for August, taking the total allocation of 51.66 lakh tonnes for the September quarter, he said.

Analysts said India is likely to produce surplus for the third straight year starting from Oct. 1, but the output is likely to drop

sharply in the key producing Maharashtra.

In Vashi market, arrivals were about 6768 truck loads (each of 100 bags of quintal each) and local dispatches were about 64-65 truck loads.

On Wednesday evening, about 9-10 mills offered tenders and sold about 28,00030,000 bags (each of 100 kg) to the local traders at Rs 3,520-3,570 (Rs 3,540-3,590) for S-grade and Rs 3,600 - 3,670 (Rs 3,630-3,720) for M-grade.

The Bombay Sugar Merchants Association’s spot rates: S-grade Rs 3,602 -3,696 (Rs 3,625-3,702) and M-grade Rs 3,7013,791 (Rs 3,702-3,811). Naka delivery rates: S-grade Rs 3,575-3,640 (Rs 3,600-3,640) and M-grade Rs 3,650-3,740 (Rs 3,670-3,770).

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