PrimeAg, Farmers-turn-Managers, Food Outsourcing and Sugar Prices

1. An article on Australian food company PrimeAg which borne out with a vision to meet the world's food security. An example of corporate farming we may soon see in india.

2. IIMA is launching a course on Food supply chain management to upgrade the knowledge of the farmers. "The course will cover all challenges and bottle-necks of the supply chain from the times the seed is sowed, till it reaches the consumer. Also, exports and reaching the food to poor will be discussed."

3. Mr Piruz Khambatta, Chairman & Managing Director, Rasna Pvt Ltd says that the food outsourcing business from India has an opportunity of $5 billion as of today. “Only six per cent of the total amount of food produced in the country is processed. This has led to an annual loss of Rs 33,000 crore in the agricultural sector through perishable commodities.”

“Agri business for rural India can do what Information Technology has done for urban India. India should be promoted as the food factory of the world in terms of both production and marketing,” he said.

3. This article in business-standard suggests that raising the retail price for sugar is the only and surest shot to resolve all the problems of the sugar industry.

VAS for farmers, Agriculture rivival and farmer training

1. Something what I have been thinking about quite some time has become true - Bharti Airtel, in association with IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative) has announced the launch of VAS (value added services) for farmers. IFFCO Kisan Sanchar (IKSL), the joint venture company of Bharti Airtel and IFFCO, will offer agriculture related information like best farming practices, soil testing, soil improvement, optimum crop cycles, required fertilizers and pesticides as well as livelihood information like mandi crop prices and utility (power/ irrigation).

2. Prime Minister says revival of Indian agriculture is must for self-sufficiency in food grains and inclusive growth.

3. Training camp help for farmers under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA),Govt. of India.