Monthly Archives: November 2018

Ryots get access to ‘dry chain’, a cost-effective technology

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

It helps in getting seed moisture at desired level

Dry chain, a sustainable farm production model, offering simple and cost-effective technology to ensure safe, dry and high-quality staple food, is now available to the farmers of Chittoor district. The technology helps reduce aflatoxin levels in groundnut, which is one of the major crops in the district.

Vivia Foundation, a Netherlands-based public benefit organisation, launched the ‘Dry chain for groundnuts’ post-harvest programme during the current kharif season at Renuka Bio Farms unit in Routhusuramala village near Srikalahasti recently, where the solar drying chambers were inaugurated. The technology was co-developed at the University of California, Davis. Grameena Vikas Samithi (GVS), a voluntary organisation accredited with the United Nations Conventions, extended support in establishing the ‘Clean works’ rural pilot project.

Dry chain is a technology aimed at getting seed moisture at the desired level, which is 9% for groundnut. “While solar drying is the optimal option for groundnut, using zeolite beads is suggested for absorbing moisture in high-value seeds”, says Rajendranath Reddy, founder of Renuka Bio Farms.

Field-tested

Kent J. Bradford, Director of Seed Biotechnology Centre at University of California, Davis, who inaugurated the facility, dubs it the first comprehensive field-tested ‘dry chain’ system in India, applied to pre-harvest and post-harvest crop processing. Future demonstrations and training programmes are being planned to showcase dry chain technologies at the farm.

“The research study for groundnuts will continue till the next rabi season ending next spring, in which farmers from across the State will be involved”, explains GVS director L. Suryanarayana Reddy. The pilot project utilised ‘Kalgudi’, a mobile application as the platform for farmer training, data collection, transactions and supply chain traceability. The technology will be passed on to local farmers so as to improve yield quality and increase overall farm revenue.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by A.D. Rangarajan / Tirupati – November 12th, 2018

Tribal farmer reaps it rich in ‘sama’ cultivation

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All
Adviser and Co-Vice Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Ryhtu Sadhikara Samstha T. Vijaya Kumar having a look at the sama crop cultivated under ZBNF at Baliyaguda in Araku mandal in Visakhapatnam district on Friday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangment
Adviser and Co-Vice Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Ryhtu Sadhikara Samstha T. Vijaya Kumar having a look at the sama crop cultivated under ZBNF at Baliyaguda in Araku mandal in Visakhapatnam district on Friday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangment

Sonnu gets yield of 6.5 quintals an acre

Following zero budget natural farming, Pangi Sonnu of Araku Valley mandal cultivated sama (little millet) got a yield of 6.5 quintals an acre.

The crop-cutting experiment in a 5×5 square metre plot was conducted at the ZBNF Sama festival at Baliyaguda village on Friday.

The festival was organised by Agriculture Department, Andhra Pradesh  Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives, Sanjeevini Rural Development Society, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources and Watershed Support Services and Activity Network (WASSAN).

The yield in broadcast farming was only between 2 and 2.5 quintals. Because of transplantation, weeding twice and using ‘jeevamrutham’ (bio fertilizer) following ZBNF the yield has gone up, a press release said.

‘Grow pulses’

Adviser and Co-Vice Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Ryhtu Sadhikara Samstha T. Vijaya Kumar suggested that farmers should grow pulses like red gram and cow pea between rows of millets to enhance soil fertility.

Programme Manager from WASSSAN Sanyasi Rao said sama productivity could go up to six quintals in ZBNF.

State Resource Person (ZBNF) for promoting System of Millet Intensification (SMI) P. Devullu said plans were ready to convert 5 % of sama farmers into SMI. In the tribal region of Visakhapatnam, sama is cultivated in 5,319 hectares.

At a farmers interactive session organised as a part of the event farmers who had grown ragi under ‘Guli’ system shared their experiences.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – November 10th, 2018

Healthy dishes tickle the taste buds in The Hindu cookery contest

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Winners of the Our State- Our Taste at Macharla in Guntur district on Sunday. | Photo Credit: HANDOUT_E_MAIL
Winners of the Our State- Our Taste at Macharla in Guntur district on Sunday. | Photo Credit: HANDOUT_E_MAIL

‘Varigala annam’ preparation tops the jury’s list

More and more people are realising the need to include in their daily menu nutritious millets that have more health benefits than the current food ingredients in our kitchens today.

Sources of fibre are hugely in demand, especially by people wanting to cut down on their weight and millets are loaded with it.

That precisely was the reason why the varigala annam (rice substituted with proso millets) cooked by V. Divya Bharathi, elbowed out many other delicious dishes, to emerge as the winner of the ‘Our State, Our Taste’ cookery contest being organised by The Hindu, in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh Tourism, in Macherla of Guntur district on Sunday.

The bran of proso millet contains vital nutrients that are essential for a healthy diet and is also an excellent source of fiber. It is gluten-free and has a significant amount of carbohydrates, protein, niacin (Vitamin B3) and fatty acids.

138 participants

Ms. Bharathi served ‘varigala annam’ preparation with ‘thotakura’ (amaranthus leaves) pulusu and ‘pappucharu’ and won the jury’s hearts.

A total of 138 participants showcased their recipes. A 10-year-old participant grabbed everybody’s attention at the venue.

A large part of the dishes comprised desserts like ‘kharjuram barfi,’ Apple-dry fruit kheer, ‘korra laddu’, ‘paala thaalika-paayasam’, ‘Nuuvulu-raagi laddu’, ‘mokkajana halwa’.

K. Prameela was the first runner-up, who made the traditional ‘sajja thappela chekkalu’ while B. Vijaya Lakshmi, the second runner-up, cooked ‘mulakkaya-endu royyala’ (drumstick-dry fish) curry. Two consolation prizes were also given to Parvathi and Veera Raghavamma. RKG, Fortune, Butterfly and Kanchi Kamakshi were the main sponsors of the event while CMR Group sponsored the gifts.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Medha Sreya  / Vijayawada – November 05th, 2018

GCC to open 21 outlets at IOC fuel stations

Business & Economy

They will be run by youth from Agency

Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) has entered into an agreement with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for opening of GCC outlets in major IOC fuel stations located in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Guntur and other cities and towns and in the twin cities in Telangana.

In all, 21 such franchisee outlets will be opened by the end of this month. These outlets would be run by fresh MBA graduates from remote Agency areas of Andhra Pradesh.

MoU between GCC and IOC was signed by T. Baburao Naidu, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of GCC, and Rahul Bharadwaj, Executive Director of IOC, in this regard on Saturday.

S. Ashok Kumar, General Manager (marketing) of Girijan Cooperative Corporation, V. Ramana Rao, Chief General Manager of IOC(retail sales), Jayabheer Mishra, Deputy GM (retail), IOC, and M. Gopal, Senior Manager (retail) of IOC were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – November 03rd, 2018

Walmart India opens first store in Visakhapatnam

Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

The ‘Best Price’ store in the city has integrated with the e-commerce and will facilitate the needs of all kinds of stores such as general stores, hotels, restaurants, houses, and the like.

Visakhapatnam :

Walmart India has opened its first B2B Cash and Carry store in the city, with the inauguration of ‘Best Price’ store, fourth in Andhra Pradesh and 23rd in the country on Wednesday.

“We are planning to expand Walmart with seven more stores in Andhra Pradesh which would be opened in Tirupati, Kurnool, Kadapa, Nellore, Kainada, Vizianagaram, and the second store in Visakhapatnam,” Krish Iyer, Walmart India CEO, said.

The ‘Best Price’ store in the city has integrated with the e-commerce and will facilitate the needs of all kinds of stores such as general stores, hotels, restaurants, houses, and the like. The Walmart will ensure convenient payment options, door-step delivery services which leads to create over 2,000 jobs locally (directly or indirectly), said the CEO.

Iyer further said that the company will invest to develop supply chain and to ensure growth of small and medium manufacturers in the State. Local clusters would be formed to outsource coconuts, melons, red chilli, vegetables, and other agriculture produce directly from the farmers to avoid middlemen. While the farmers get the double price of the produce, but, the price for customers would be best, he said.

Walmart earmarked $4 million in order to improve market access for small scale farmers in the State. The vision is to develop a chain with fruits and vegetable farmers and providing them access for training and more productive crop varieties, said the CEO.

He said the Best Price store will have over 5,000 items on display which include a wide range of fresh, frozen and chilled food items, fruits and vegetables, dry groceries, personal and home care items, hotel and restaurant supplies, apparel, office supplies, electronic goods and other general merchandise items.

Krish Iyer said that they have signed an MoU with Girijan Co-operative Corporation (GCC) to source Araku coffee and other products. He said four of the seven proposed stores would start functioning from next year. Whereas for other stores land still have to be identified which will take three to four years. He revealed that their focus is now on tier II and tier III cities. Punjab has the highest number of Walmart stores now and by next year AP will dislodge Punjab by having more stores, he said.

He said “we got good support from the State government and hence we are expanding our activities in the State.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Business / by ANI / November 01st, 2018