special news bulletin october - 2013 - …200 million kgs this year," said mr.paras desai,...

SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN OCTOBER - 2013

2AGROLOOK OCT - 2013

WORLD NEWS 7

COMPANY NEWS 11

SCOPE OF SPECIALTY CORN FOR INCOME 13

AGROCHEM EX-2013 3

Agrochem EX – 2013

Agrochem EX – 2013 organized by CCPIA was held in Shanghai Ever bright Convention and

Exhibition Center at the heart of Shanghai City from 16th – 18th Oct – 2013. More than five

hundred Exhibitors from China, India and few other countries participated in the event.


In addition to Agrochemical manufacturers, Contract Laboratories, Packaging machine

manufacturers, Magazines and Book Publishers, also showcased their Products. Around two

thousands visitors from many Countries visited the exhibition. The organizers took a lot of care

to make the event very pleasant and success.


Agrolook (Mahamaya Group) was also invited this year as Media partners and had their stall.


Visitors from many countries showed great interest in the contents of the Magazine and

appreciated the quality of information published in this.

Many Visitors and Exhibitors, who are Pesticides manufacturers, Importers, Distributors, had a

feeling of satisfactions in the event which has been a platform for Global Pesticide business

companies to interact and establish business relationship.


WORLD NEWS

Tea production in India expected to grow at 5% in 2013

Tea production in India in 2013 is expected to grow b y around 5% this year and likely to end

above 1,180 million kgs due to adequate rains. Last year, tea production was 1,126 million kgs as

per data available from Tea Board of India. During the period from January to August this year,

tea production has risen by 6.2% to 705 million kgs as compared to 664 million kgs during

corresponding period of last year. Total supply of tea including imports is likely to b e around

1,200 million kgs this year. Total supply has grown b y compounded annual growth rate (CAGR)

of 4.5% in last three years till 2012; while total demand including exports has grown b y CAGR

of around 1.5%. In 2012, total supply of tea including imports was 1,147 million kgs; while total

demand including exports was 1,096 million kgs according Tea Board of India data.

"Till August, growth in tea production has been above the CAGR of last three years. For the full

year, we expect growth of around 5%, which will translate into production of around 1,180

million kgs. Together with imports of about 20 million kgs, the total tea supply would be about

1,200 million kgs this year," said Mr.Paras Desai, Executive Director, Wagh Bakri Tea Group.

He further added that Assam Valley, Dooars and Terai regions have shown good growth, which

together contribute to 60% of total production. "Production in these regions will be higher in Sep

and October also and so we expect overall growth of 5%. Though production in south India has

gone down during this period, we expect production figures to improve in the next two months

due to good rains there," Mr. Paras Desai added. For the first quarter of Jan-Mar 2013, exports

rose by about 34% to 59.8 million kgs. "Even if the exports were to rise by 15% compared to last

year, we would have more than 900 million kgs of tea left for domestic consumption," Mr. Paras

Desai said. Even if only production figures are taken into account, then it has exceeded domestic

consumption and exports by around 45 million kgs. This indicates that since last two years,

Indian tea production has exceeded total demand, according to data from Tea Board of India. In


spite of excess of production over demand prices of quality teas have moved up over last year.

Today tea is the cheapest beverage with health b benefits. Hence, to address excess of supply

over demand of tea, Tea Board Chairman has taken up the task of making tea more popular pan

India be it in urban or rural areas of India giving it a slogan 'Chai Piyo Mast Jiyo'.

(Source-The Economic Times)

Restricted fenthion permit issued

An interim permit issued allows very restricted use of the suspended insecticide fenthion on

peaches and apricots in the 2013-14 growing season. Following the suspension of fenthion for

use on these crops on 16 October an industry organisation asked the Australian Pesticides and

Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to consider whether a single spray of fenthion would

be acceptable. Industry advised that a single spray of fenthion for this season would still be

useful for growers when combined with other control options closer to harvest. Based on the

available data, the APVMA assessed that, with a single spray, peaches and apricots would have

residues at safe levels after 21 days. “After consideration of the data provided, we have issued an

interim permit which allows growers to apply fenthion once this season to peach and apricot

crops, and there must be 21 days between spraying and harvest,” said Dr Raj Bhula, Executive

Director, Pesticides. The permit applies for the period 29 October 2013 to 30 April 2014.

“To produce fruit which is safe for consumers to eat, growers must comply with the conditions of

this permit for the use of fenthion on peaches and apricots,” Dr Bhula said. Residue levels will

be monitored independently over the season. “If residue levels are found to be above what is

considered safe, the APVMA will take immediate action which may include cancellation of the

permit. “Issuing this restricted permit does not change the current suspension instructions or

permits already in place for other uses of fenthion.” Dr Bhula said. The APVMA is conducting

an ongoing review of fenthion which includes consideration of human safety (toxicology); resi-

dues in food; worker safety; and the environment. This decision only relates to the human safety

and residues in food components of the review. Assessment of all components of the review is

expected to be completed in mid-2014 with the final decision on the uses of fenthion in Australia


expected soon after. Fenthion is not registered for use on food producing plants in the European

Union, USA, Canada or New Zealand. At toxic levels fenthion interferes with the human

nervous systems and safety standards are set well below toxic levels to protect both the

community and the industry.

(Source: Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority)

Why Europe needs more productive agriculture, New academic study shows that

productive agriculture brings significant benefits for food security, resource efficiency.

Productive agriculture delivers important benefits to Europe and the world – from increased food

security and more efficient land use to climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection and

economic and social stability – according to a landmark academic study.

The new report, “The social, economic and environmental value of agricultural productivity

in the European Union”, has been published by the Humboldt Forum for Food and Agriculture,

an international non-profit think tank based in Berlin. The study assesses data on the economic,

social and environmental effects of productive agriculture (which uses modern technologies such

as agricultural machinery, new seed varieties, organic and/or mineral fertilizers, and plant

protection products and solutions) in the EU.

According to the findings, each percentage point increase in agricultural productivity in the EU:

• feeds more than 10 million humans per year • increases the annual social welfare generated in European agriculture by approximately

500 million • contributes EUR 500 to the annual income of an average EU farmer • reduces our net virtual land imports by about 1.2 million hectares • acts to save 220 million tons in CO2 emissions

Switching to low input agricultural methods, with average 31 per cent lower yields than

productive agriculture in the EU, would come at the cost of these benefits, according to the

report’s authors.“This study – the first scientific analysis of its kind – quantifies the various

benefits of productive agriculture in the EU”, said one of the study’s authors, Dr. Steffen


Noleppa of agripol GbR, an agricultural policy research firm based in Berlin. Harald von Witzke

from Humboldt University Berlin, president of the Humboldt Forum for Food and Agriculture

and also an author of the study, adds: “Clearly, when it comes to agriculture, productivity

matters.” Dr. Friedhelm Schmider, Director General of ECPA, the European Crop Protection

Association, said: “This study reminds us all that productive agriculture, which incorporates

pesticide use and other modern agricultural technologies, has contributed to improve our way of

life in many ways. The benefits pesticides bring to the table are often taken for granted, and the

reasons for their use in agriculture are rarely discussed. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that this

new research will serve as base for increasing the understanding of the accomplishments which

have already been achieved in agriculture. Innovation in crop protection has delivered a lot and

for this to continue we need policy and regulatory frameworks that foster innovation and help

Europe’s farmers to stay competitive, in order to meet the challenges of tomorrow and to

continue to deliver affordable and healthy food available for all, whist protecting enviroment and

consumer health. (Source: European Crop Protection Association)

China grants first registration approval for herbicide chlorthal-dimethyl

Chinese company Jiangsu Weunite Fine Chemical has been granted the registration approval for

its herbicide 96% chlorthal-dimethyl technical from Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals,

Ministry of Agriculture (ICAMA). As per Chinese Pesticide Registration Watch, Weunite Fine

Chemical is the first company approved for chlorthal-dimethyl technical in China. Chlorthal-

dimethyl is a selective non-systemic herbicide, which could be absorbed by the coleoptiles

(grasses) and hypocotyls, kills germinating seeds. It is used for pre-emergence control of annual

grasses and some annual broad-leaved weeds in onions, garlic, leeks, tomatoes, lettuce,

cucurbits, soya beans, cotton, ornamentals, and other crops. Chlorthal-dimethyl product was first

introduced in 1960. Amvac acquired Dacthal (Chlorthal-dimethyl) from GB BioScience and

obtained the label in US in the same year.

(Source: Overseas Agrochemical Consulting Paraguay)


COMPANY NEWS

Syngenta launches novel seed treatment insecticide

• Unrivalled early season broad spectrum insect control • Powerful new grower tool for insect resistance management

Syngenta announced the registration in Argentina of FORTENZA™, a novel seed treatment

insecticide, for use on soybean, corn and sunflower. Further registrations are pending in multiple

countries for both seed treatment and foliar uses across all major field crops. The global peak

sales potential of the FORTENZA product family is expected to be around $300 million. FOR

TENZA is based on the active ingredient (AI) cyantraniliprole, a second-generation diamide. It

follows the 2008 launch of Syngenta's highly successful DURIVO™ product family, used in soil

and foliar applications, and based on theAI chlorantraniliprole. FORTENZA was specifically

developed as a seed treatment to control lepidoptera as well as chewing and sucking pests.

FORTENZA Duo combines cyantraniliprole with thiamethoxam to set a new standard for early

season pest control, while complementing the performance of insect resistant seed traits.

Syngenta Chief Operating Officer, John Atkin, said: "The FORTENZA product family will help

give crops the best possible start by providing growers with powerful new tools against pests,

above and below the ground. Data from more than 1,000 multi-year field trials demonstrate long-

lasting protection and unrivalled yield benefits across multiple crops. This launch underpins our

record of seed treatment innovation and our focus on efficient and low dose chemistry.

(Source – Syngenta, Basel, Switzerland)

Bayer continues positive business momentum

Sales of the agriculture business (CropScience) increased in the third quarter b y 4.3 percent (Fx

& portfolio adj. 12.1 percent) to EUR 1,712 million (Q3 2012: EUR 1,641 million). "This

increase was mainly due to the good development of our crop protection products. Our b usiness

benefited from a continuing favorable market environment and a good start to the season in Latin


America," Dekkers explained. This sub group posted its largest gains in the Latin

America/Africa/Middle East region (Fx adj. plus 31.3 percent) thanks mainly to strong business

in Brazil. CropScience sales in the Asia/Pacific region also rose by a double-digit percentage (Fx

adj. plus 10.8 percent). While sales in Europe matched the high level of the previous year, b

usiness in North America receded b y 6.5 percent (Fx adj.) against a very strong prior-year

quarter. At Crop Protection, Insecticides and Fungicides were particularly successful. These

product groups increased sales b y 28.2 and 24.7 percent, respectively (Fx & portfolio adj.).

Herbicides saw a small sales gain of 1.9 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.), while b usiness with seed

treatment products (Seed Growth) remained at the level of the prior-year period (Fx & portfolio

adj. plus 0.3 percent). The positive overall development in these b usiness units more than offset

the significantly lower sales in Seeds (Fx & portfolio adj. minus 30.2 percent). This was largely

the result of reduced canola and cotton acreages in North America, which also led to higher

product returns. Sales of the Environmental Science operating segment advanced b y 19.2

percent (Fx & portfolio adj.). Both the products for professional users and the consumer b

usiness contributed to this growth. EBITDA before special items at CropScience climbed b y

13.7 percent to EUR 224 million (Q3 2012: EUR 197 million). The increase in earnings was

mainly due to the good b usiness development but was held back by higher selling and R&D

expenses.

(Source- Bayer CropScience)


Scope of Specialty corn for Income generation

Ambika Rajendran R*, Nirupma Singh* and Dhandapani. R**

*Scientist, Directorate of Maize Research, New Delhi, [email protected]

*Scientist, Directorate of Maize Research, New Delhi, [email protected]

**Scientist, Directorate of Seed Research, Mau, Uttar Pradesh, [email protected]

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an adaptable, high-yielding and fast-growing important cereal crop

suitable for wider production as grain crop. Recently, it is being grown for diverse uses and

specialty purposes. Such maize for specialty and value added purposes are collectively called

specialty corn. Compared to field corns, specialty corns possess additional and characteristic

features. Their global spread, increasing demand and premium price make them an attractive

option for the farmers in many countries including India. Specialty corns are amenable to

numerous options pertaining to harvest time and various economical products. Maize with

respective quality parameters relating to tender ear characteristics, biochemical components

relating to protein, sweetness, starch, oil and popping traits are considered as specialty corn

(Table 1).

Table1. Characteristics of different specialty corn

Type of maize Specific characteristicsBaby corn Baby corn is the ear of maize plant harvested

young, especially before or just after the silk

emergence. Currently maize cultivars originally

developed for grain usage are grown for baby

corn purpose. The dehusked ears are crisp, sweet,

succulent, delicious and can be eaten as salad

vegetable. Baby corn is free from pesticide and


its nutritional value is comparable to other

vegetables. After harvest the plant by-products,

such as tassel, young husk, silk and green stalk

provide good cattle feed. It generates

employment among the rural poor of all ages.

Baby corn is a good option for crop

diversification. It suits best to peri-urban

agriculture. It offers great potential to earn

foreign exchange through export of fresh/canned

baby corn and its processed products. Sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata). Sweet corn is genotypes with specific endosperm

mutation like su and sh. In India, sweet corn

green ears of field corn are consumed. Standard

sweet corn at the immature, milky stage contains

about 10 percent sucrose, while field corn in the

same stage has about 4 percent sucrose. After

harvest or if left on the stalk too long, sucrose in

standard sweet corn is rapidly converted to

starch. Sweet corn kernels often have a wrinkled

and glassy appearance resulting from a sugary

gene which retards the normal conversion of

sugar to starch during endosperm development.

Kernel colors vary, sometimes being mixed both

white and yellow. Freshness increases the pricing.

To compete and find a nearby niche (like

restaurant or roadside stand) for sweet corn,

entrepreneurs should explore the potentials of

moving these corns to consumers within a day of

harvest. These kernels at room temperature can

lose as much as 50 percent of their sucrose by 24

hours after harvest.


Popcorn (Zea mays everta) Popcorn is a popular snack cereal possessing

specific popping features and related quality

traits. It is generally pearl or rice type. Pearls

have smooth and rounded crowns, while rice

types are pointed. Heating the kernel turns the

moisture inside the soft starch in the centre into

explosive steam that can turn the kernel inside

out. The greater the expansion, higher the quality.

Moisture content should be 13.5 to 14 percent for

best results. Varieties differ in flavour, tenderness,

absence of hulls, colour and shape. Shapes can

vary from mushroom, spherical to butterfly. The

confectioneries prefer spherical ones which is

easier to coat with flavours or syrups. The

butterfly shaped popcorn has a better "mouth

feel" and is preferred for snacks. Quality Protein Maize (QPM) QPM is genotypes with 2-3 times increased

levels of two essential amino acids-lysine and

tryptophan. This protein alteration is controlled

by a single recessive gene, Opaque-2, discovered

in 1964. Waxy corn Waxy corn contains 100 percent amylopectin

whereas normal corn contains 75 percent

amylopectin and 25 percent amylose.

Amylopectin is a form of starch which consists of

branched glucose subunits whereas amylose is

made up of unbranched glucose molecules. The

waxy trait is controlled by a single recessive wx

gene. Waxy corn is used by wet-corn millers to

produce waxy corn starch which is utilized by the

food industry as a stabilizer/thickener.High amylose corn This corn has amylose content higher than 50%.


High amylose corn is grown exclusively for wet-

milling. This starch is used in textiles, candies

and adhesives.High oil corn High oil corn has approximately 7 to 8 percent

oil. Additionally, protein quality and quantity are

increased to some extend in high oil corn. This is

because the germ size is larger and it contains

protein of higher quality than the endosperm. The

high oil trait is controlled by polygenes. Highly

polyunsaturated and high linoleic acid content of

corn oil makes it an excellent energy and

essential fatty acid source for both humans and

livestock.

Strategy of Production and Consumption

Production practices for producing maximum grain yield using specialty corn hybrids are similar

to those for field corn hybrids. Good fertility, adequate weed control and proper planting date are

necessary to produce maximum yields. The characteristics of specialty corns warrant

consideration. Care must be taken to avoid cross pollination with normal hybrids. If cross

pollination occurs, the cross-pollinated ears of the specialty corn hybrids will produce normal

seed and the seed of the hybrid will have the quality trait percentage intermediate between the

field and specialty corn hybrid. To avoid cross pollination, specialty hybrids should be grown in

an isolated field or the grain from the border rows should be harvested separately from the rest of

the field. Additionally, these specialty hybrids should be grown following crops other than corn

to avoid volunteer corn. The potential grain yields of specialty corn hybrids are generally lower

than those of field corn. However, quality traits of specialty corn provide competitive advantage

over field corn yield. Specialty corn yields vary depending upon location. Test weight can also be

lower in QPM than normal maize hybrids so care must be taken to select a hybrid with adequate

test weight. To address major limitation of low productivity, initiatives are being made to

develop single cross hybrids in specialty corn. Utilizing elite hybrids with higher productivity


and quality would facilitate faster spread and popularization of specialty corn to different stake

hold-ers. The huge potentiality of each specialty corn through hybrid technology would facilitate

better harnessing multiple benefits. Specialty corn takes advantage of available resources in a

more judicious way. It requires special efforts to study value chains and associated market

opportunities. Depending upon the actual conditions in a growing season and local market

situation, farmers can plan harvesting. Progress in establishing specialty corn research and

(a) (b)

a) View of detasseled field for baby corn productionb) Baby corn ears; husked and dehusked


development would be fostered by transferring technology through public awareness campaigns.

Urbanization, rising incomes and convenience foods are enhancing demand of specialty corn.

The processing sector can be promoted through streamlined production, market development,

focus on production advantages and customer requirements. To strengthen competitiveness, the

industry needs to develop quality; reduce post harvest damage by improving on-farm

mechanization and labour skills; introducing better storage especially cold storage technologies;

enforcing market standards; overcoming inconsistencies in supply (labour availability, seasonal

peaks) and providing greater incentives to growers. In the longer run this agro based industry

will need to stimulate customer demand using more targeted marketing and niche products to

overcome price sensitivity, develop brand reliability and cross-marketing to counter pricing

strategies of competitor countries.


special news bulletin october - 2013 - …200 million kgs this year," said mr.paras desai,...

Documents