Category Archives: Agriculture

Andhra Pradesh: Farmers export plant material

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Nature, World Opinion

Local farmers get direct export orders from agents in the Gulf

The farmers export tall plants which grow to a height ranging from four to eight feet and aged two years and above by placing them in cocoa peat, to bring down the weight of the plant. (Representational Image)
The farmers export tall plants which grow to a height ranging from four to eight feet and aged two years and above by placing them in cocoa peat, to bring down the weight of the plant. (Representational Image)

Rajahmundry:

Given the huge demand for ornamental, fruit and ‘avenue’ plants from Kadiam nurseries in the Gulf, nursery farmers have exported plant material worth over $1.5 lakh to Dubai, Singapore and other countries in the current fiscal year, so far. Fruit plants like mango, ‘sapota’, guava, jackfruit, orange, ‘nerudu’, and ornamental plants like several varieties of colourful croton and ‘avenue’ plants like ashoka, kanuga, coconut, palm and others are being raised in plant nurseries located in several villages in Kadiam mandal in East Godavari. These plants are in huge demand in several Gulf countries. Local farmers get direct export orders from agents in the Gulf.

The farmers export tall plants which grow to a height ranging from four to eight feet and aged two years and above by placing them in cocoa peat, to bring down the weight of the plant. The farmers transport the plants in big refrigerated containers on trucks to the sea ports located either in Visakhapatnam or Chennai to export to the Gulf in cargo vessels. The plants can survive for a period ranging from 15 to 20 days in these refrigerated containers.

Horticulture authorities say that the quantum of export of plants to foreign countries from Kadiam nurseries is 0.5 per cent of the total potential and underlines the importance of enhance it to at least 10 per cent, so that local farmers benefit. The authorities also feel the need to tap the plant market in the US, as there has been no export business carried out here by Indian farmers. They say that the plant quarantine is imperative to create an export market.

This is mainly because no plant with pesticide residue will be accepted abroad. In addition, the plant must be ‘whole’, meaning its stem, branches and leaves must be healthy. They must also be free of diseases and pests and show no signs of this, in the form of scars. At present, the authorities are depending upon analysis of plant material at the Horticulture Research Station.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by Sampat G. Samaritan, Deccan Chronicle / November 27th, 2017

A techie’s tryst with mangrove crab

Agriculture, Business & Economy, World Opinion
Pirati Kanumuru with a wild crab at his pond near Konduru village in Krishna district. | Photo Credit: T_ APPALA NAIDU
Pirati Kanumuru with a wild crab at his pond near Konduru village in Krishna district. | Photo Credit: T_ APPALA NAIDU

Reaping profits with export to China

A young Hyderabad-based techie, Pirati Kanumuru, has tapped potential of mangrove crab (Scylla serrata) cultivation in the artificial ponds near Konduru mandal headquarters in Krishna district. Mr. Kanumuru was born in Konduru mandal.

Managing to collect above 6,500 mangrove crabs from the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary and other mangrove patches in Krishna and Guntur districts for every 90 days, the techie is reaping profits by exporting them to Singapore and China. The Yanadi tribal families collect the crab from the mangrove forest.

Fattening technology

“I have recently held talks with middlemen to export the wild crab to a few South Asian countries. The talks are in a crucial stage now,” Mr. Kanumuru told The Hindu. Beginning with a pilot project testing the survival and feasibility to cultivate the wild crab in the artificial ponds in 2015, Mr. Kanumuru had spread the wild crab cultivation in the six acres now.

The growth of the wild crab being collected from the mangrove forest is fast. The crab would gain weight of up to two kilograms within the three months in the crab fattening technology. In the fattening technology, the crab is left to grow in the floating cage.

“In the international market, a kilogram live crab fetches ₹1,000 to ₹1,200. The profit on each crab for each cultivation season (three-months) is clearly double in the existing market prices,” added Mr. Kanumuru. The techie had installed Closed Circuit cameras covering all the ponds here, inspecting the groundwork and day-to-day developments through online from Hyderabad. The crab fattening technology enables to go for any inter-crop in the same pond as the cages with crab are required to float on the pond. “The existing United Nation’s guidelines will not encourage the mass collection of the wild crab (Scylla serrata) from the mangrove crab, citing a threat to the brackishwater species. There is a need to develop hatcheries to encourage the crab cultivation,” said Mr. Kanumuru.

Hatchery in Bapatla

The State government with the support of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture has proposed to set up a wild crab hatchery in Bapatla in Guntur district. In 2014, the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, has introduced the crab fattening technology in Sorlagondi forest in Krishna district, involving the Yanadi tribal families those engaged in the collection of the wild crab from the mangrove cover.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by T. Appala Naidu / Koduru (Krishna) , October 30th, 2017

New aquaculture system dedicated to nation

Agriculture, Records, All, Science & Technology

ICAR Director General Trilochan Mohapatra on Tuesday dedicated to the nation the indigenous Re-circulatory Aquaculture System developed at the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Dr. Mohapatra, who was here to receive an award at the third AP Science Congress, lauded the efforts by scientists for setting up RAS for marine finfish broodstock maturation. This would help quick production and effective disease control to farmers, he said. RAS has been successful in broodstock development of Orange spotted grouper and pompano to enable mass scale production.

Later, he interacted with scientists of CMFRI and Central Institute of Fishing Technology. He praised the training imparted by CIFT to fisherwomen of Pudimadaka and facilitating them to sell various fish items on Beach Road by procuring a van.

The ICAR Director General advised scientists to conduct a case study on success of the project so as to replicate it at other places in the country.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – November 08th, 2017

Andhra Pradesh Farmers Fly To Singapore, Hotels And Food On Government

Agriculture, Business & Economy, World Opinion

Officials say the farmers are expected to learn from Singapore how to invest the funds they have earned in exchange for their land, “so that Amravati can become another Singapore”.

The first batch of farmers left this morning for the airport in a bus flagged off by CM Naidu.

Hyderabad :

Cash-strapped Andhra Pradesh is sending over 100 farmers to Singapore so they can see how the land bought from them will be used for the development of new capital Amravati, and also how they can invest their new-found wealth.

These are farmers who signed off their land to the Capital Region Development Authority for the building of Amravati after Andhra Pradesh lost Hyderabad to new state Telangana after bifurcation. Around 26,000 farmers gave up around 33,000 acres of land.

Sources say the government, in partnership with Singapore, has put up Rs. 40 lakh for the tour plan, hotels and food while the farmers, wealthier after being compensated for their land, are paying for the ticket.

The first batch of 34 farmers, selected through a draw of lots, left this morning for the airport in a bus flagged off by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. “These farmers have created a world record by making a success of land pooling. They should learn how Singapore has developed and their best practices,” Mr Naidu said.

There will be four batches and a total of 123 farmers will tour Singapore. Many have never gone abroad and were full of doubts.

K Adilakshmi from Tullur, who had given five acres of land, said she is happy that farmers are being made partners in the region that originally belonged to them. “I am sure we will learn a lot from Singapore,” she said.

Officials say the farmers are expected to learn from Singapore how to invest the funds they have earned in exchange for their land, “so that Amravati can become another Singapore”.

Critics say while thousands of farmers gave up their land, only those seen to be close to the ruling party were shortlisted for the foreign trip.

A consortium of Singapore firms, Surbana Jurong, is the lead consultant for building Amravati in 20 years at a cost of Rs. 55,000 crore.

The farmers’ group is expected to visit Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities and the Singapore Art Museum. There will also be a session on construction laws for apartments.

source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> Andhra Pradesh> Sections / by Uma Sudhir / October 31st, 2017

Guntur scientists break new ground

Agriculture, Records, All, Science & Technology
Tadikonda MLA Tenali Sravan Kumar launching the programme at the Live stock Research Station.
Tadikonda MLA Tenali Sravan Kumar launching the programme at the Live stock Research Station.

Conduct successful trials on transfer of embryo from Ongole cows to other breed

The Ongole breed cow is known for high milk yielding capacities and adaptability in tough conditions.

An innovative cattle breeding technology replicating the In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) procedure developed by the veterinary scientists at the Livestock Research Station, Lam, here is now promising a revolution in cattle breeding.

After successful clinical trials in which the surrogate embryo of the higher genetic Ongole cow is transferred to lower genetic cows under the “Indigenous Bovine Embryo Transfer Mission” at Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Livestock Research Station, Lam, Guntur, scientists are now taking the technology to the doorstep of farmers.

Big advantage

The programme has been taken up under the National Mission on Bovine Productivity (NMBP) under the Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, and Andhra Pradesh Livestock Development Agency. “The big advantage that a dairy farmer has is there is an increase of offspring by 5-6 times through the bovine embryo transfer technology. The quality of offspring is also better as the embryo transfer is in between higher genetic animals to lower genetic animals,’’ said officer-in-charge, Livestock Research Station, Dr. Mutha Rao.

Tadikonda MLA and board member of the university Tenali Sravan Kumar launched the programme at the Live stock Research Station, Lam, in the presence of senior officials of the department. Under the National Mission on Bovine Productivity, it was proposed to carry out 1,000 embryo transfers during October 2-10, 2017, across the country and the Embryo Biotechnology laboratory at Livestock Research Station, Lam, has been identified to carry out this activity in Ongole cattle.

“ It will help in protection of the indigenous cow breeds and also help the propagation of the milch breeds of India,” Dr. Mutha Rao said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by P. Samuel Jonathan / Guntur – October 03rd, 2017

Breakthrough in mass scale seed production of Indian pompano

Agriculture, Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

It is a first of its kind in the world, says CMFRI scientist

Redefining mariculture: Seed of Indian pompano at the CMFRI nursery in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: arranged
Redefining mariculture: Seed of Indian pompano at the CMFRI nursery in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: arranged

The regional centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute here has made a major breakthrough by undertaking mass scale seed production of Indian pompano for the first time in the world.

Indian pompano (trachinotus mookalee) is a marine fish belonging to the family Carangidae. It is low in landing from the wild. It contains Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. It is sold in the domestic market at ₹200 to ₹300 per kg.

The species is distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region and present in 15 countries of the Asian continent. In India, it is reported from both the west and east coasts.

It has sporadic occurrences in bays and lagoons, and the adult fish prefers shallow coastal waters with rocky areas.

Senior scientist in charge of the regional centre Subhadeep Ghosh told The Hindu that the fish was considered to be a good candidate species for aquaculture due to its fast growth rate, easy adaptability to culture conditions, quick acceptance of artificial feed, pleasant appearance, good meat quality, and high consumer preference. In addition, it can be successfully cultured in tanks, ponds and cages.

Broodstock collection

In a bid to diversify Indian mariculture, breeding and seed production of the species was initiated at the regional centre with broodstock collection in 2011.

Initial success in seed production on a small scale was achieved in early 2014. However, seed could not be produced consistently due to loss of broodstock maintained in the cage by the effect of the catastrophic Hudhud cyclone that hit the Visakhapatnam coast that year.

Broodstock collection was initiated again in 2015 and the fishes were stocked in the land-based Re-circulating Aquaculture System (RAS) for development and maturation.

“With manipulation of water quality and feeding protocols, fishes were induced to spawn in the RAS and mass scale seed production was achieved in early 2017,” Dr. Ghosh said.

Metamorphosis from larvae to fry started on the 17th day post-hatch and was completed by the 22nd day. After 30 days of rearing, the survival rate was around 17.2% and the fry reached an average size of 2.9 cm in length and 1.27 gm in weight. A few thousand fry were transferred to the Veraval Regional Centre of CMFRI in Gujarat and are being nursery-reared for stocking in cages.

Another few thousand fry were transferred to Nagayalanka in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh and are being nursed prior to release in the pond. The remaining fry, again a few thousands, are being nursery-reared at the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of CMFRI.

He said the seed would be stocked in open sea floating cages for grow-out very soon.

This was the first case of successful mass scale seed production of Indian pompano under confinement anywhere in the world.

The success raised hopes for culture of the fish using hatchery produced seed in India and will present enormous scope for aquaculture business opportunity in the near future for Indian fish farmers through species diversification.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Santosh Patnaik / Visakhapatnam – July 04th, 2017

Banganapalle mango gets GI tag

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion
The Andhra Pradesh government is the registered proprietor of the GI tag for mangoes, often hailed as “the king of fruits.” Photo: | Photo Credit: C.V. Subrahmanyam.
The Andhra Pradesh government is the registered proprietor of the GI tag for mangoes, often hailed as “the king of fruits.” Photo: | Photo Credit: C.V. Subrahmanyam.

Banganapalle mangoes have been grown for over 100 years in Andhra Pradesh.

The succulent Banganapalle mango has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, making Andhra Pradesh the proprietor of the variety known for its sweetness.

The Registrar of Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai, O.P. Gupta has accorded the registration following an application from the Horticulture Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh.

The Andhra Pradesh government is the registered proprietor of the GI tag for mangoes, often hailed as “the king of fruits.”

A GI tag indicates that the product comes from a specific region.

Banganapalle mangoes have been grown for over 100 years in the State. It also known as Beneshan, Baneshan, Benishan, Chappatai and Safeda.

Besides, they are also called Banaganapalli, Banginapalli, Banaganapalle.

The fruits can retain their quality under cold storage even up to three months, Andhra Pradesh government said in documents seeking GI.

“The prominent characteristic of Banganapalle mangoes is that their skin has very light spots, stone is oblong in shape and has very thin seed with sparse and soft fibre all over,” it said.

The primary centre of origin of the fruit is Kurnool district comprising Banaganapalle, Paanyam and Nandyal mandals, according to the Andhra Pradesh government which mentioned Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra as secondary centres of origin.

The government has also listed Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, Medak and Adilabad districts in Telangana as secondary centres of origin.

Submitting documents for proof of origin, it also cited historical records like a “war fund seal (Banganapally-State Madras War Fund Seal).”

A logo too is in place — featuring a bright yellow fruit around which the tagline says “Banganappalle Mangoes of Andhra Pradesh,” with images of a man and a woman appearing to be farmers.

According to an affidavit furnished in 2011 by the then Andhra Pradesh Commissioner of Horticulture, I. Rani Kumudini, nearly 7.68 lakh families were involved in the production of Banaganapalle mangoes.

About 5,500 tonnes of Banganappalle mangoes were being exported annually to countries like the U.S. and U.K.

While the annual turnover of Banaganapalle mangoes was approximately ₹461 crore, exports were to the tune of ₹20.68 crore, she had said.

GI is covered under the Intellectual Property Rights and the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.

A GI tag certifies the origin of a product or produce from a particular region as the quality or other features of the product is attributable only to the place of its origin.

The tag helps farmers or manufacturers, as the case may be, to get a better price in the market.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech> Agriculture / PTI / Chennai – May 04th, 2017

Experiments in Vizag Agency areas bear fruit

Agriculture
Small & beautiful: An apple tree at the Regional Agricultural Research Station in Chintapalli. | Photo Credit: K_R_DEEPAK
Small & beautiful: An apple tree at the Regional Agricultural Research Station in Chintapalli. | Photo Credit: K_R_DEEPAK

Commercial production of Andhra Pradesh apple may begin in four to five years

Experiments of the past three years have confirmed that the Agency areas of Visakhapatnam are suitable for apple cultivation.

If all goes well, commercial production of apples could begin in four to five years.

“We are undertaking further study on the varieties that are suitable for the region. The outcome of these studies is expected in a couple of years,” chief scientist of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, Ramesh Aggarwal, said. He was on a visit to the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) at Chintapalli in the Agency area of the district recently.

“Low chilling varieties of apple saplings — Anna, Michael and Selection — were planted at RARS, in 2014. The results — the average number of fruits per tree was 35 and average weight of each fruit was 53 gm,” Associate Director of Research, RARS, G. Jogi Naidu, told The Hindu.

“We again planted new varieties — Apple ‘A’ mark creeper, Apple Bilaspur and Nonisalan — in August 2016 and we are expecting good results. The CCMB distributed around 5,000 saplings to 100 tribal farmers in 2014 for cultivation in the Agency. Around 15,000 saplings were distributed to them recently,” he said.

“The results have shown that the fruit has a sweet/sour taste. It is small in size,” said Mr. Naidu.

“The overall average minimum temperatures in the Agency areas of Visakhapatnam district is in the range of 4 to 17 degrees Celsius during winter. RARS is also growing wheat from Indore and white rajma, chick pea, barley and oats on an experimental basis.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by B. Madhu Gopal / Visakhapatnam – February 08th, 2017

AP conservationist wins Disney award

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, World Opinion
A Appa Rao won the Disney Conservation Hero Award for his contribution in restoration of Krishna mangroves.
A Appa Rao won the Disney Conservation Hero Award for his contribution in restoration of Krishna mangroves.

Andhra University alumnus Allaparthi Appa Rao of Repalle village in Guntur district won the Disney Conservation Hero-2016 award for his contribution in the restoration of Krishna mangroves.

The mangrove cover including the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary is a safe haven for Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) and smooth-coated otter.

The California-based Wildlife Conservation Network has documented the efforts of Mr. Appa Rao in restoration of the mangroves and nominated him for the Disney Conservation Hero -2016 award.

The Disney Conservation Fund has announced 15 Disney Conservation Heroes globally, including Mr. Appa Rao, for 2016.

“We are impressed by your use of innovation mangrove restoration techniques to reforest mangroves and dedication to educate people in local villages about the importance of Fishing Cats and their mangrove habitat,” wrote Claire Martin of the Disney Conservation Fund in his communication to Mr. Appa Rao.

The Fund honours conservationists who have gone above and beyond demonstrating passion, courage, and tenacity in tackling some of the biggest challenges in protecting the planet’s resources.

“I believe that the global recognition of being Disney Conservation Hero will help in conservation of the mangrove cover in Krishna and Guntur districts as Fishing Cat, smooth-coated otter and other wildlife species are thriving in the mangrove cover,” Mr. Appa Rao told The Hindu .

Mr. Rao was instrumental in documenting the presence of Fishing Cat in the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary. As coordinator of the village-level Ecology Development Committees active in Krishna and Guntur districts under the Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department, Mr. Rao has been working with local communities in restoration of the mangrove cover since 2003.

“I cherish to spend my days in the mangroves forest. It always fascinates me with diverse life of wildlife. Documentation of smooth-coated otter in the mangroves and study on Fishing Cat became key aspects of my routine life in the mangroves,”added Mr. Appa Rao.

He manages a treasure trove of archives on the wildlife present in the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary and the rest of the mangrove cover.

The California-based Wildlife Conservation Network has documented the efforts of Appa Rao in restoration of the mangroves.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by T. Appala Naidu / Machilipatname – November 09th, 2016

A tribe that saves Krishna dist. farmers from rat menace

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment
A Yanadi rat-catcher at Nagayalanka village in Krishna district.
A Yanadi rat-catcher at Nagayalanka village in Krishna district.

If the weather is good with farmers without bringing any cyclones in November, it is the rat that eats the paddy grains and leaves the farmer in despair. Then it is the Yanadi tribe members who visit the fields in winter and rescue the farmers from the crop damage due to rat menace.

Though rat-catching is not a profession of the Yanadi tribal people, they take it up as a seasonal livelihood activity in Krishna district. Rat-catching activity between November and December is likely to guarantee a few thousand rupees of income for each such family.

According to farmers, rats manage to settle in the fields expecting to collect paddy grain from November.

“We should keep an eye on the weather conditions and the presence of rats in the fields since early November. The crop damage caused by the rat is heavy if we fail to drive it away from the field,” say farmers of Machilipatnam.

Bamboo traps

In Krishna district, Diviseema region has a significant number of Yanadi tribal families who engage in rat-catching. “We do prepare an exclusive rat-catching device which is made of sticks or bamboo. We simply place it at strategic places across the field to catch rats alive,” say Yanadi tribal families talking toThe Hindu . They, however, do not wish to reveal their names.

The tribal rat catchers charge Rs. 20 for catching each rat. A farmer is required to spend at least a few thousand rupees on tackling the rat menace per acre.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by T Appala Naidu / Machilipatnam – October 31st, 2016