In the era of globalisation, growing demand of food is a major concern which can only be resolved by global co-operation. Innovation, technology will only help us when India shake hands with other countries of the world. Our cover story features India and Netherlands agribusiness relationship and identifi es growth areas for mutual development. Tracking the expansion of agribusiness ties with Netherlands, we have presented a comprehensive view on the present and future trends in agricultural trade.

In order to meet global food demand, hybridisation is required at a massive scale. In the second section of our cover story, we have showcased the growth potential of hybrid seeds, current status and how India can become a global supplier. 

Technology and innovations are the lifelines of agriculture. We have shown a detailed report about how digital Green is working for the well being of farmers, role of online Agro market and role of pesticides in agriculture is also highlighted.

Welcome to this year’s fourth edition of Business of Agriculture magazine.
This digital edition brings an array of articles from the world of agriculture useful for professionals in the industry.
Agriculture is a primary requirement of human existence. As technology is becoming an integral part of our modern lives, technology is also playing an important role in today’s agriculture sector as well.

To come to think of it without agriculture there cannot be a proper function of life, and hence it is very important for human existence. Now, technology has become an integral part of modern human life and, thus has entered the agriculture sector in India too. Though it had entered agriculture in more advanced countries much before.

Almost one billion people, all across the world suffer from chronic malnourishment, while at the same time our agricultural systems are degrading and exacerbated by the increasing uncertainties of climate change. In the coming few years, the world is going to face biggest food crisis, as the global population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050. In order to meet the daily food requirements, we will need to produce 70 percent more food than we do
today.

India’s interim budget for the fi nancial year 2019-20 was presented by Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal. As the nation is gearing up for general elections in coming months, the interim budget was keenly watched and analysed. This interim budget was presented in the backdrop of the raging political debate around farm distress, farmer suicide and the loan waiver. This budget has a strong focus on the rural and agricultural sector and it also suggests that economic priorities have taken precedence. The interim budget has an array of incentives for both the middle-class and farmers.

Our cover story Burning Topic - Smog Rules Rules the North India enlightens readers about the consequences of stubble burning; why farmers are opting this as an easy solution; and what could be the alternatives to solve this problem.

The advantages of organic foods are becoming more well-known and widespread. The demand for organic foods has increased throughout the world. The article on Organic Food will bring to the notice of readers that how organic foods are different from natural foods, and this will also explain the reasons why we should buy organic foods.

Before I talk about the content of this edition, I just want to put in prospective the natural calamity in Kerala and Nagaland. My heart goes to all those people affected in those flood ravaged regions.
In Kerala over 280,442 farmers have been affected by the flood.

Crop loss is about 45,988 hector worth Rs 10.7 billion (Free Press Journal)

The sheer magnitude of damage to human life, property and crops has been
overwhelming. Recovering from this disaster will be a herculean task for
both the Government and the people, who were rendered homeless. The
Farmers hoes today are multi-dimensional.

The monsoon rains, vital for Asia’s third largest economy, hit the southern state
of Kerala at the end of May. This is set to brighten the outlook for agricultural and
economic output in the state. Indian monsoons, in general, got off to a pretty good
start across much of southern India. However, we see a change in the situation
because of climate change.

Monsoon delivers about 70 percent of India’s annual rainfall and is the lifeblood of its $2.5 trillion economy, spurring farm output and boosting spending on items ranging from gold to tractors and refrigerators.

The practice of urban agriculture and community gardening is a comprehensive approach to support and engage individuals and neighbourhoods, promoting economic development through food production, improving neighbourhood safety through combating blight, and exposing youth to intergenerational interactions and encouraging self-reliance. The case for urban agriculture is often made around food
production and economic development, but a new publication makes the case that urban agriculture can also increase social capital, community well-being, and civic engagement within the food system.

The Finance Minister (FM) goes on a Farm Visit this Budget. The jury is still out but many agree that the FM has given a big push to the agriculture sector.

The discussion, on viability of the policies announced and the actual changes to be seen on the ground, has dominated from drawing rooms to TV studios. Amongst all the noise of politics the actual woes of the farmers in India must not be sidelined.
As we were preparing for the press one more piece of bad news trickled in – the lack of winter rains and water availability for the farming community which means less productivity.

We believe, one point that skips every policy maker’s to-do-list is that there has been a lack of out-of-box thinking for improving the lives of farmers, thus making farming a profitable venture. Why do they need to tow their produce to the mandis? Why can they not have access to minimal processing near to their fields?

This digital edition brings an array of articles from the world of agriculture useful to professionals in the industry. In this edition, we take a glance at a list of compilations pertaining to the farming economy contributed by some of the most experienced stakeholders in the market, across industry and academia. With changing times, there have been many developments in science and the business of agriculture that needs highlighting.

There are farm to fork articles on strategies and methodologies being adopted in the agricultural sector, to meet changing demands of the economy. From the present
promotion of seeds that ensure food security for the growing population to  different aspects of the agricultural economy that are of urgent need and pressing concern, the farming sector is in a flux.

‘Agripreneure’, features a budding generation of farmers open to new techniques,
routines and methods of farming that attract better returns by cultivation of plants
like herbs, medicinal plants, roots etc. In our ‘Cover Story’, readers will find
perspectives from the seed industry, where ongoing research for high quality seeds
is being undertaken to achieve food security that is sustainable and competitive.
Amidst the confluence of pressures facing the agricultural economy, our article
on ‘Sustainable Agriculture’ questions whether we are ready for the next green
revolution. In ‘Technological Intervention’, ‘Fruit and Vegetable Processing
Techniques’ takes a look at the fruit and vegetable potential of the country, which is
of huge nutritional value to consumers. ‘Using AI in Agriculture’ glimpses at China as
it speeds up its efforts and launches the first artificial intelligence project for assisting farmers in crop production.

The above lines by Nina Fedoroff are absolutely correct as population is increasing at a rapid rate and to counterbalance the basic need - food for the survival of population, new entrants are entering into the food industry at a large scale. Organic farming, it’s challenges, current status in India and new entrants entering into it, all these are discussed in detail in the Cover Story.

Technology is the most fundamental aspect of agriculture. In this section, we have shown how technology is helping in bridging the information divide and digital divide, discussing the R&D pipelines and global partnerships.

In the Innovation section, we are discussing the Indo-Swiss collaboration in biotechnology and in the second part detailed briefings are available on the science behind selecting the borewell. 

Research and Development section is focused on papers by International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) discussing China’s sustainable agriculture.

An exclusive report on global climate change is enclosed in the Case Study section. To feed the world in 2050, challenges and targeted outcomes are discussed in the International section.

The News and Happenings section features the latest from the world of agriculture.
Enjoy Reading!

It is a pleasure to announce that the magazine is now a monthly. Growing demand and innovative agriculture policies have given a new impetus to the sector. We will now equip you with the latest information, knowledge and developments in this domain every month. Our cover story encapsulates India and Africa Agribusiness relationship and identifies growth areas for mutual development. Tracing the evolution of agribusiness ties with Africa, we have presented a holistic view on the present and future trends in bilateral trade. India needs sufficient cold storage capacity for the preservation of the surge in agricultural production. In order to meet demand, various other infrastructure components combined with cold-chain integration and improved market connectivity have to be developed. We have presented a glimpse of the current market scenario and prepared a roadmap of the future for cold storage in this edition.

Our Cover Story The Way Forward – Agriculture as a Business Sector nails it completely. It urges the government to take steps to prevent land-grabbing for non-agricultural purpose, especially from agricultural lands and to treat agriculture as a business sector. The price policy should be farmer-friendly and not trader-friendly, and high level water management practices should be adopted on a war-footing. Innovation being the buzzword, Agri-entrepreneurs & Innovation - Scaling Greater Heights talks about innovation as the cornerstone of success for the new breed of agri-entrepreneurs, who have foresight and use innovative techniques to grow their business.

Empowering Lives - Management Education in Agriculture Sector in the Innovation section is a telling statement on the importance and the immense potential of the agribusiness education, which is crucial to the emergence of India as the world leader in the agriculture sector.

The opportunities in agribusiness have substantially increased due to globalisation of trade and agriculture, in the past few years. Agribusiness has opened up vast opportunities for value addition, packaging, retailing, exports and online platforms of agricultural products with high application of technology and management. With agricultural commodities being turned into value-added products, young and charged-up entrepreneurs are joining the fray. These young entrepreneurs are modifying their business-models and exploiting market opportunities to improve
their lifestyles as well as that of people at large.

Our Cover Story ‘Entrepreneurship in Agriculture: Options Galore!’ looks at opportunities for entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector, and how entrepreneurship in agriculture is making a significant difference around the world.

Current population of the world is expected to reach 10.5 billion by 2050, further adding to global food security concerns. This increase translates into 33 percent more human mouths to feed, with the greatest demand coming from the developing and underdeveloped economies of the world. However, food availability and accessibility can be improved by increasing the production, improving distribution and reducing the losses post-harvest. Thus, reduction of post-harvest food losses is a significant component for ensuring future global food security.

We bring to you the inputs of experts from the agriculture industry on the much discussed topic of Post-Harvest Management: Reducing Food Losses; Ensuring Food Security, with in-depth analysis.

With world’s population on the rise, the demand for food continues to accelerate. As per person availability of arable land, water and other resources continue to shrink, it has created a major challenge – how to ensure that agriculture produces enough yields to feed billions? To meet this challenge, increasing food output has to depend on increasing productivity, rather than on expanding the land under cultivation. In the last few decades, agricultural research has emerged as one of the keys to increasing food production. Therefore, further commitment and advances in research become critical to ensure that future generations will be better fed, clothed and housed than they are today.

Food shortage, rising food prices and a booming population have created a
major challenge – how to ensure that agriculture produces enough yields to feed billions? To overcome this challenge, there is a dire need to increase per hectare productivity. The possible way is the judicious use of fertilisers and pesticides to increase crop yields and to replace soil nutrients removed with harvested crops, thus helping to increase productivity per hectare. The Business of Agriculture takes note of how fertilisers and pesticides impact the yields, and make a significant difference in food production.

The start of the New Year is the right time to put things in perspective. The world will need to feed 9 billion people by 2050, which means responsible investments will be crucial. The Business of Agriculture identifi es and monitors policies and regulations that impact how markets function in the agricultural sector.

It’s unfortunate, depressing and the facts are unsettling; but it’s essential to get them right! Approximately 1.3 billion tonnes, about a third of the food produced in the world every year, gets wasted. The staggering quantity of food wasted is enough to lift nearly one billion hungry people out of malnourishment! Our Cover Story Cold Chain: Solution for Food Wastage highlights the importance of cold chains and gets the message across loud and clear: Good food is a terrible thing to waste!

Our Cover Story Seeding Success – An Innovation Overdrive talks about the adoption
of modern technologies and the rapidly changing trend in the agriculture sector.
To add to it, Innovation section provides interesting insights on Farm Mechanisation
and Sustainable Farming Solutions from New Holland.
Advanced Farming Equipment: Transforming Agribusiness in India in the Technology
section sheds light on the changing agricultural landscape in India.
It’s time India steps up efforts to combat the menace of floods. Our Case Study Soil
Based Integrated Management of Flood and Flood Plain Soils shows the way forward.
Like any other sectors, availability of finance is crucial for the development of
agriculture. Financial Institutions in India: Major Pillars in Financing Agricultural
Equipment in the Finance section provides a comprehensive coverage and makes for
an informative read.
R&D section enlightens on the issues and strategies of the Indian Guar Gum Industry
and highlights the importance of Land Reforms for Genuine Food Regulatory practices.
There’s plenty more in this edition of Business of Agriculture (BoA). Keep yourself
abreast with the latest happenings in the agricultural sector with the News &
Happenings spread across the pages.
Enjoy Reading!

Our Cover Story Agriculture Services: A Journey from Farm to Plate enlightens
readers on the wide network of agricultural services, which work at multiple
levels simultaneously and throws light on its revenue and employment generating
capabilities.
Finance is crucial for every sector, and agriculture is no exception either. The article
on Agri-Finance Institutions: Major Players in Agribusiness Development talks
about the various agri-finance institutions and the crucial role they play in revitalising
the agriculture sector.
Act smart is the buzzword! The marketing of agriculture products is undergoing
rapid transformation and Organic Certification: Smarter Way to Market
Agriculture Products succinctly elaborates on this emerging trend.
India is finally waking up to the potential of Research and Development (R&D) in
agriculture. The article Agricultural Research in India spells out the evolution and
development of research, and lists out the benefits it entails.
Learning from the better practices of others has always been our forte. In the
International section, the article on India-South America Trade Ties: An Insight
on Marketing Agricultural Produce and Preventing Crop Loss makes for an
interesting and insightful read.
The case study Soil Based Integrated Management of Flood and Flood Plain
Soils is an in-depth and well-researched piece of work, which talks about the
judicious management of flood.
International cooperation is the way to go forward. And BRICS’ Agriculture Trade
Jumps Manifold; Trends Reveal Healthy Cooperation shows the jump in the
volume of trade within BRICS.
There’s plenty in store in this edition of Business of Agriculture (BoA). Keep
yourself updated with the News & Happenings from the agriculture industry,
spread across the pages.
Enjoy Reading!

Our Cover Story Farming Billions explains the dire necessity of a magazine
on the business of agriculture. Indian agricultural landscape is witnessing rapid
transformation. Agri entrepreneurs, armed with quality education and advanced
technology, are coming up in a big way. The opportunities as well as challenges are
enormous, and they are very succinctly laid out.
The time is ripe for an agriculture renaissance in India. The Union Budget 2014
brought the focus back on agriculture. BoA gets agriculture industry’s reaction to
the Budget proposals, and shares the hits and misses with the readers.
The extensive Research and Development (R&D) in agriculture will lend a new
paradigm. Growth in agriculture must come from technological change, and to
sustain agricultural growth, investment in agricultural research must be increased.
India-Israel Cooperation focusses on the collaboration between the two countries
in R&D. Israel: The Leader in Agriculture Innovation highlights the effective
agriculture model of developed countries, which Indian agriculture industry can
always look up to.

September - October 2019

May-June 2019

March - April 2019

January - February 2019

November - December 2018

September - October 2018

July - August 2018

May - June 2018

January - February 2018

November - December 2017

July/August 2016

April 2016

January - February 2016

October 2015

July -  August 2015

Agriculture contributes a substantial chunk to the GDP of India, yet there is no magazine dedicated to business of agriculture in India. 
 
 
We, Business of Agriculture magazine,  fulfill the existing gap by providing a platform for  discourse on all aspects of agri-business. The Business of agriculture – inputs, produce and post harvest – will form the core of the magazine. The magazine will focus on  the state of agriculture business, industry trends, business climate as well as highlight issues effecting the sector and the way forward.
 
Besides, the news and the views of the sector interviews with leading business honchos will find their way to the magazine. 
 
The magazine will be read by business leaders, policy makers both at Centre and State Government level, financial institutions, social entrepreneurs amongst others.

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Business Of Agriculture - May - June 2016

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