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India could show the way in organic farming in 30 years

The world's largest annual organic products event, BioFach 2012, began here with a sharp focus on India and its products. “Millions of small and marginal farmers practise organic farming by default. This is because they do farming in rain-fed areas and cannot afford modern agriculture that encompasses using fertilisers and pesticides,” said Mr Asit Tripathy, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Commerce. Changes were happening .....

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India Crowned World’s Top Rice Exporter

India has overtaken Thailand to become the world’s top exporter of rice. In less than five months after lifting a ban on exports of non-Basmati rice, India is shipping out more of the staple grain than any other country in the world, thanks to its cheaper prices, rising output and ample stocks. India’s rice stocks are big enough to hypothetically take care of the entire world’s import requirements for a year. India’s latest exports achievement .....

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90 trains for low-cost transportation of vegetables, fruits

In a bid to curb nationwide wastage of horticulture produce, thanks to the existing shortcomings in supply chains, a set of specially designed high-speed, low-cost trains have been launched that significantly reduce the time and price of transporting fruits and vegetables across the country. Carried in special cargo containers, fruits and vegetables will no longer need refrigeration in transit, thereby helping in lowering .....

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Government mulls cold chains for fruit to cut wastage

The Union agriculture ministry has drawn up plans to invest in cold chain infrastructure for fruits in the upcoming financial year. India produces 230 million tonne of vegetables and fruits a year but around 25% of the produce goes waste due to poor and inadequate infrastructure for perishable products. The ministry has joined hands with Fresh and Healthy Enterprises, a fully-owned subsidiary of government-owned .....