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Inputs & crop science
Seeds, breeding, crop protection, biologicals, fertilisers and animal health, always with the regulatory status and jurisdiction.
From the archive
Reporting from earlier editions of The Agrotech Daily. Figures, prices and policies may have changed since.
- Inputs & crop science, GlobalBiofortification: how it enhances food preservationBiofortification raises levels of micronutrients such as zinc and iron in staple crops through breeding, genetic modification or fertilisers, aimed at the rural poor who rely on local staples.
- Inputs & crop science, IndiaFirst set of residue-free tomatoes produced by Ninjacart in partnership with KilofarmsNinjacart and agritech platform Kilofarms produced a first batch of residue-free tomatoes, cleared by the Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, Bangalore.
- Inputs & crop science, IndiaIndia to launch its first herbicide-tolerant and non-GM rice varietiesIARI's Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985 are India's first non-GM herbicide-tolerant rice varieties, letting farmers spray imazethapyr in direct-seeded rice.
- Inputs & crop science, HaryanaMore than 1.6 lakh poultry birds to be culled in Haryana’s PanchkulaHaryana is culling more than 1.6 lakh poultry birds around two Panchkula farms where samples tested positive for H5N8 avian flu, paying owners ₹90 a bird.
- Inputs & crop science, GlobalAgricultural biosecurity and disease controlAgricultural biosecurity uses surveillance, planning, access controls, quarantine and pest management to keep diseases, pests and invasive species out of farms and the food supply.
- Inputs & crop science, GlobalAchieve the best apple orchards with these 4 stepsA four-step guide to growing apple trees: choosing a sunny, well-drained site, planting and spacing, pruning, and harvesting at the right time.
- Inputs & crop science, IndiaRed ladyfinger is the new superfoodA red okra variety called Kumkum Bhindi is being grown by a farmer near Bhopal and sells at Rs 45 to Rs 80 a kg wholesale, against Rs 12 to 15 for green ladyfinger.
- Inputs & crop science, IndiaVanishing DAP from the markets increases the plight of the farmersDAP is scarce ahead of rabi sowing as global prices have surged, with imported DAP at $675 to $680 a tonne, despite a higher subsidy approved on October 12.
- Inputs & crop science, GlobalThe role of livestock in sustainable agriculture, and how to manage a successful animal husbandry operationLivestock supply protein-rich food, improve soil through grazing and manure and support rural economies, and a successful operation depends on breed choice, housing, feeding, health care and records.
- Inputs & crop science, IndiaPusa tablets, a ‘microbial consortium’ aimed towards sustainable farmingIARI's Pusa Decomposer capsules, a mix of eight micro-organisms, can ready fields for sowing in about 20 days, giving farmers an alternative to burning paddy stubble.
- Inputs & crop science, GlobalThe International Potato Center (CIP): 50 years of attainmentThe International Potato Center, a CGIAR research centre headquartered in Lima, Peru, marks 50 years of root and tuber research for resource-poor farming communities.
- Inputs & crop science, IndiaNational Fertilizers Limited (NFL) noted steep growth in the sale of non-urea fertilisersNational Fertilizers Limited reported sharp growth in sales of non-urea fertilisers from April to October 2020, led by bentonite sulphur and single super phosphate.
- Inputs & crop science, Tamil NaduHorticulture department will distribute onion saplings to stabilise onion pricesThe horticulture department in Trichy is raising small onion seedlings to give farmers in place of bulbs, which it says will shorten the crop cycle and steady prices.
- Inputs & crop science, GlobalAgricultural diversification and niche cropsDiversifying into new crops, livestock or methods spreads farm risk, and niche crops such as elderberries and lavender can earn high value, though markets and know-how are often lacking.
- Inputs & crop science, IndiaRise in the prices of fertilisers escalates tensions between farmers and the stateA Rs 700 rise in DAP prices and dearer cotton seed led the KMSC to block the Amritsar-Ferozepur road, while the Centre told firms not to raise non-urea fertiliser prices.
- Inputs & crop science, GlobalBlooming business: fascinating facts about floricultureOutlines the history and uses of floriculture, the global flower trade led by the Netherlands, and the industry's challenges, from labour costs to supply chain disruption.
- Inputs & crop science, MaharashtraPune-based start-up Bioprime Agrisolutions to help farmers improve crop resilience to changes in weatherPune start-up Bioprime Agrisolutions has developed liquid bio-molecules that it says make crops more resilient to sudden weather changes, backed by Rs 1 crore in BIRAC LEAP funds.
- Inputs & crop science, IndiaFloriculture flourishes: navigating a blooming businessExplains what floriculture covers, its history and uses, and how to start a floriculture business in India, from market research and site choice to licences and market links.
- Inputs & crop science, GlobalLivestock management and digital animal healthExplains what livestock management involves and how wearables, sensors and data analytics can detect disease early and guide feeding.