Planting Material -Quick Response (QR) Labeling- New Approach towards Authenticity of Quality material

Quick Response (QR) Code Labeled Planting Materials 

Considering the importance and need to provide quality planting materials, especially, in the perennial horticultural crops, the Government of India is implementing the programme of accreditation of nurseries through the National Horticulture Mission.

Under this programme, In order to ensure the security or to avoid fake labeling, the password protected QR Code allows sharing the Information only with the registered and authorized people.

What was the Problem ?

Due to the non-availability of the genuine planting material of the improved varieties, especially in plantation crops, the farmers and the customer are facing huge problems and losses in purchasing the planting material.

Many farmers suffer huge losses due to purchase of low quality planting material sold by the private nurseries and private companies.

Role of the ICAR-CPCRI

The ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod has been distributing the QR coded coconut seedlings for the past three years.

The labels having a size of 4.0cm x 2.5 cm with an emblem of ICAR-CPCRI are waterproof laminated. The variety’s name is imprinted on one side and the QR code imprinted on the other side. The label has a Unique Identification Number (UID).

Quick Response (QR)

A machine-readable code consisting of an array of black and white squares, typically used for storing URLs or other information for reading by the camera on a smartphone.

(source-wilkipedia)

This QR Code affixed labels can be used for the purpose of tagging/labeling the planting material (grafts/ budded / tissue cultured / vegetatively produced) in the perennial crops like plantation crops, fruit crops and commercial crops. This is an example of successful implementation of QR code labeling technique in coconut, which can be duplicated in other crops as well. If a large number of QR Coded labels are prepared, the cost per code will be between Rs. 4.00 to Rs. 4.50 only.

Article- Agriculture Graduate Trainee (AGT) Vacancy In the IIFCO, An Article on the IFFCO.

Article-Vacancies for the Post of Agriculture Graduate Trainee (AGT)

IFFCO 

A new vacancy for the agriculture graduates is announced by the Indian Fertilizer giant owned by Cooperatives.

Vacancy

IFFCO requires Agriculture Graduate Trainee (AGT) for its Field Offices located in the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu & Kerala.

Qualifications

• The candidate should possess Four Years B.Sc. (Agriculture) Full Time Regular Degree but those candidates whose final semester results are expected by September, 2019 can also apply.
• General/OBC candidates should have secured a minimum of 60% marks in each semester and SC/ ST candidates should have secured a minimum of 55% marks in each semester in B.Sc (Agriculture) degree. Those candidates who have CGPA score in B.Sc (Agriculture) degree should convert into percentage while filling the application form.
• The candidate having Two Years Full Time Regular Degree in M.Sc. (Agriculture) can also apply, provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria prescribed for B.Sc. (Agri.) qualification given above.
• The above qualifications should be from the UGC recognized University /Institute.

Important to Notice

• The candidates who have passed B.Sc. (Agriculture) degree in 2016 and thereafter can only apply.
• Last date to apply is 05/09/2019

Official Link

Here is the Link to reach the Official Website for the Full Descriptive Notification  https://www.iffcoagt.in/

How to apply- 

Click the given link

https://www.iffcoagt.in/

About IIFCO (For Knowledge)

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) is one of India's biggest cooperative society which is wholly owned by Indian Cooperatives.

Founded in 1967 with just 57 cooperatives, IFFCO is today an amalgamation of over 36,000 Indian Cooperatives with diversified business interests ranging from General Insurance to Rural Telecom apart from our core business of manufacturing and selling fertilisers.

With IFFCO's vast marketing network of over 36,000 cooperative societies it reaches more than 5.5 Crores ( 55 million ) farmers in India.

Marketing strength

The Marketing Division of IFFCO has the herculean task of providing fertilisers to the corners of India, reaching farmers who live in some of the most challenging terrains and locations in the world.

IFFCO products are transported

91% by Rail

 

09% by road

Present Scenario of IIFCO

Turnover =27,852 Crores

Total Income=28,546 Crores

Total Production=81.49 Lakh MT

Cooperative Members=Over 35,282

"New Mechanism for the processing of the Makhana is developed"

Mechanism for the processing of Makhana is developed

Makhana (Fox nut or Gorgon nut)

is used widely for the consumption purpose in many parts of the world. But only few knows that the processing of the Makhana requires high manpower. There has been no existing technology in India that could had made the processing easier.

Technology

A complete processing system for the processing of the Makhana has been developed by ICAR's Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and technology (CIPHET).

The Small unit for producing 12kg makhana per hour costs 15 lakhs.

Roasted Makhana

The process which used to take 2 to 3 days to complete ,now could be completed in just 20 hours.

Though the Mechanism is well functional the poor fisherman still find it very costly, as the cost involved in this method is 50Rs per kg costlier than the traditional method.

Bihar's Role 

Bihar is the largest producer of Makhana. About 5 lakh families are directly involved in makhana cultivation, and selling.

Makhana Cultivation

In Bihar alone it is grown in about 15,000 hectare water bodies.

The Output of the Makhana is around 7,500-10,000 tonne per year.

Other states where makhana is also grown includes Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Odisha.

Subsidy

Bihar government is also giving the Subsidy in establishing this processing plant.

Conclusion

The traditional method takes a lot of time and involves manpower for the processing of the makhana. Due to this new mechanism the processing of the makhana has been made easier,

The Demand of the makhana is very high with respect to the production, thus many other states such as Madhya Pradesh , Himanchal Pradesh, Telangana, Hariyana, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh has also shown interest in the cultivation of the Makhana.

Current Affairs ' June 2019' - "The Cashew (kaju) is being Extended to M.P and Raj."

Cashew (Kaju) cultivation now being extended to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan

Introduction

 Beside tradional states the cashew cultivation is now being extended to the non-tradional states such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan,

The Director of the kochi based Directorate of Cashew nut and Cocoa Development (DCCD), said that Cashew would be planted in about 2,000 hectares in Madhya Pradesh in 2019-20.
And in Rajasthan cashew cultivation will be introduced in 2019-20. Though the survey is yet to be done , plans are thre to cover about 150 hectares in that state.

Madhya Pradesh

The Cashew would be Planted in 2,000 hectares of the land in Madhya Pradesh in 2019-2020.

Its Cultivation was initiated in Betul region of Madhya Pradesh. And Varieties such as Venguria-4 and Venguria-7 are doing well in that region.

The Betul region has witnessed more than 90 percent success rate till now.

Rajasthan

In Rajasthan cashew cultivation will be introduced in 2019-20. Though the survey is yet to be done , plans are thre to cover about 150 hectares in that state.

Additional Information 

Cashew is being cultivated in 19 States now, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are the recent addditons.

Steps will be taken to intensify cashew cuktivation in Andhra pradesh, Jharkhand, chhattishgarh, Gujarat, Tripura and Meghalaya among others.

Conclusion

DCCD had made a proposal to take up  cashew cultivation on 1.2 lakh hectares in 2017. The Agriculture Ministry has approved the plan.

Following this, cashew cultivation was taken up on 48,000 hectares in the country.

There are plans to take up cashew cultivation on atleast additional 50,000 hectares during 2019-20.

Current Affairs 'july 2019'- " Latest Update On Cultivation of the Banana ", Prevention from Wilt disease.

Banana cultivation to get High-tech

Agro scientist workng at the Indian Council of Agriculture Research  (ICAR) hvae come up with a new bio-formulation to save the G-9 variety of Banana from premature wilting.

Research

Research named ICAR-FUSICONT will help farmers eliminate a plant disease called " Panama Wilt".

G-9 Variety of Banana is likely to get more benefit from the research as the technology mainly aims at this Variety of Banana.

Areas

In Bihar, banana cultivation is carried out in more than six districts, including hajipur in Vaishali and Bhagalpur.

Damage

The Disease has damaged standing crops in katihar , Purnia, Bhagapur, Vaishali and Naugachia district in particular besides other parts of the state.

credits

Two Scientist of ICAR Dr S Rajan and Dr T Damodaram, were behind the research.

Current affairs 'August 2019' - "Record Breaking Tea auction for the Rare Tea variety", Updates On Agriculture

New Tea Variety Breaks Record

Historic Auction In GTAC

Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) on Tuesday Breaks Record for the auction of a rare variety of the tea , which is auctioned for the Rs75,000 per kg .

The Tea variety ' Golen Butterfly ' purchased by city based Assam Tea Traders, This Exceptionally rare and special was sold through J Thomas and Company. The GTAC is emerging  as a centre for showcasing high-priced  Assam Speciality tea.

Other varieties- Similar Cases

Important - Recently, GTAC witnessed two big records last month, when the orthodox variety 'Majjan Golden Tips ' fetched a price of Rs70,501 per Kg and one Kilogram of Manohari Gold, another speciality orthodox tea variety, was sold at Rs50,000.

GTAC Buyers Association secretary- Dinesh Bihani.