Drone Spraying in Sangli Sugarcane Cultivation, Social Impact Entrepreneur Introduces New Trends in MH Agriculture

Prateek Patil has implemented a line of drone technology for the purposes of spraying fertilizers - 3200 acres of sugarcane area covered, benefiting more than 2000 farmers in the Walwa region. 

Sangli, Maharashtra, India 

Sangli District has been grounds for pioneering agriculture and irrigation works in Western Maharashtra. From the cooperative movement to drip irrigation, innovation has been a sign of the cultivation in the region. The drone spraying technology introduced by Prateek Patil and adopted by the Rajarambapu Sugar Factory in Sangli in 2020-2021 has not only reduced time and efforts of the farmer but also increases profitability.

To launch this initiative, Prateek conducted 22 ‘ShetkariParisamvads’ where he met over 4,900 farmers to incept the idea and talk about the benefits of this technology. According to him, “acceptance to new methods is often the most difficult step in the Indian agricultural landscape, and to get their willingness to try new schemes is one of the challenging parts."

Prateek has been involved with agro-innovation and has conducted several initiatives to aid and propagate drip irrigation. These meetings across Sangli propelled the conversation and attracted many farmers to come and test out the drone technology.

Saving Time, Money and Water 

Conventionally the farmer sprays his crops physically. Even with hired manual labour, this is a costly and time-consuming affair. In the manual spraying method, for 1-acre sugarcane, a farmer would spend around ₹1000 on spraying labour charges along with 200 litres of water and a higher quantity of chemicals.

To address these problems, coupled with the lack of labourers during COVID 19, Prateek decided to introduce this technique. He took it upon himself to test the technology and setup a partnership with a regional manufacturing company. The drones are given out on rent at very affordable rates saving almost 40% of total costs. It utilizes only 10 litres of water, saving almost 150 litres. Additionally, now it takes only 5-10 mins to spray fertilizers and permitted pesticides on 1 acre of Sugarcane as opposed to 4-5 hours earlier. Crops at any height can be effectively reached and 4 nozzles guarantee a comprehensive and equal distribution of fertilizers and pesticides.

It is flexible across climate conditions and allows for uniform spraying of entire fields. A reduction of 25-50% in the quantity of fertilizers and pesticides used has been observed after adapting drone spraying and the quality of yield of crops has been found to increase by 20-30%, which in turn has translated to more income.

Generating Employment

Use of this drone technology also has an additional advantage of generating employment for the local youth in sectors of manufacturing and operations. The Sugar Factory has partnered with a company called Chatak Innovations for assembling and operating the drones. Labour force hiring for the drone operation facility like Drone Pilots & Co-Pilots, Cars & Drivers for the drone’s transport and the supervision team is facilitated under the leadership of Prateek Patil. Employment numbers for assembling and operating is expected to increase as more farmers adopt the drone technology.

Currently, the Factory uses a 10 litre Octocopter drone. After conducting an initial pilot, this technology is being introduced on a greater scale to farmers of the region. Till date, more than 3,200 acres of area has been covered by drone spraying benefiting more than 2000 farmers of the region. Each drone is currently covering 9 to 12 acres in a day and this is a first of its kind exercise conducted by a sugar factory in Maharashtra, stated by Vikas Deshmukh (Director-Vasantdada Sugar Institute).

This initiative opens a great path into precision agriculture in Maharashtra, providing new ways for farmers to manage crops, ensure the efficiency of inputs such as water, fertilizers and maximize productivity, quality, and yield. As a part of Prateek Patil’s vision, there are plans for the Sugar Factory to further utilize drones for Crop Scouting. This method gives a 97% accurate estimate of the Sugarcane crop’s yield. There are also plans to utilize drones to estimate pests and diseases in crops, conduct nutrient analysis of the soil by analyzing pictures of the crop, NDVI, monitor irrigation and also estimate the total area covered under Sugarcane in the region. 

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Collaborates With Big Basket to Offer Premium New Zealand Products to Indian Consumers

 

New Zealand businesses to expand operations in India with a focus on the fresh fruits, meat & seafood, pet care, dairy and FMCG categories

New Delhi, Delhi, India

The New Zealand government’s international business development agency, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, strengthened its economic relations with India today as they announced that several New Zealand businesses would be expanding their offer of premium products to shoppers across India. Through the launch of the ‘Made with Care’ campaign and an e-commerce partnership with Big Basket, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) aims to make New Zealand’s premium and high-end F&B, grocery, dairy, and retail-products more accessible to Indian consumers. The products would be available for consumption in partnership with Big Basket, India’s leading online grocery store.

As a part of this expansion strategy, product offerings of these NZ brands will become accessible across several new cities in the Indian market. The marketing campaign will highlight how New Zealand food producers and businesses grow and produce food that is “Made with Care”. The partnership with Big Basket will give consumers inclined towards safe, tasty, healthy, and nutritious produce, access to a selection of premium New Zealand products, all the while raising New Zealand’s profile as a trusted and sustainable global food exporter.

The brands listed on Big Basket include Mr. Apple, Rockit Global Ltd, Fonterra, Zespri International Ltd, Avanza Limited, Quality New Zealand, Addiction Foods NZ Ltd, and Olivado. The product offering ranges from fresh fruits, premium meat & seafood, dairy, pet care, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).

Further to the announcement, Ralph Hays, Trade Commissioner, South Asia at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, said, “We are proud to partner with India’s leading online grocery story, Big Basket. We are eager to strengthen our relationship with India and build a strong, sustainable platform on which both of our nations can connect. In addition to providing an opportunity for our local companies to expand in India, we hope to also build a long-term base for other New Zealand products to establish a footprint in India. We are excited at the chance to reach out to the Indian consumer and deliver the best products from New Zealand.”

As New Zealand expanded its offerings for the Indian consumers, David Pine, New Zealand High Commissioner to India, said, “New Zealand and India both have shared a long-established relationship with each other. We have constantly worked towards improving our product offerings for the Indian audience and the ‘Made with Care’ campaign highlights New Zealand’s promise of sharing its culture and products with a wider audience in the future.”

This announcement builds on a trade mission from New Zealand to India in February 2020, when New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker visited India to further strengthen political and business ties. The Ministers co-led a high-level business delegation to India to support increased people and economic engagement between the two countries.

The New Zealand Government has always been keen to work with India on global and regional issues, and towards potential trade and economic opportunities. This partnership with Big Basket will thus, augur well for building a better relationship between the two countries by allowing for increased trade.

About New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise | TeTaurapaTūhono (NZTE) is the government agency charged with helping New Zealand businesses to grow internationally. NZTE uses its extensive knowledge and global networks to help exporters of all sizes make better decisions and connect to the right partners. It also connects international businesses and investors with high-value growth opportunities in New Zealand. By supporting New Zealand businesses in these ways, it boosts New Zealand's economy and reputation, helping to share what's special about New Zealand with the rest of the world.

NZTE works with all kinds of innovative businesses, including food producers, Māori land trusts and iwi, tech startups, service providers, manufacturers and more. NZTE has more than 750 employees and hundreds of private sector advisors around the world who use their knowledge and connections to add value to ambitious New Zealand businesses who want to go global, for the good of New Zealand.

Celebrate this World Food Day with tasty treats from Cornitos

 

New Delhi: Every festival brings in a lot of fun. This World Food Day let your taste buds rejoice and have a blast of flavors with a vast variety of flavourful and healthy options by Cornitos. Cornitos SuperSeeds is delicious and also boosts your immunity to keep you active and healthy throughout the hectic festive season. Sunflowers seeds, corn nuts, and pumpkin seeds are premium quality and nutritious snacks for a good time. We can buy them online - (https://shop.cornitos.in/collections/nuts-seeds)

Cornitos veggie nachos are a great solution during the festive season. You can celebrate the festivals and world food day with these veggie nachos available in flavors like Beetroot, quinoa, mélange, and spinach. All these are loaded with the goodness of veggies and are absolutely gluten and guilt-free snacks which you can enjoy anytime. So, you don’t have to hold back on your cravings and buy them online. (https://shop.cornitos.in/collections/nacho-crisps/veggie-nachos)

When it comes to a quick snack solution, DIY kits come in handy to save you from the process of long hours of cooking, especially during the festive season. Cornitos DIY kits of delicious wraps available in flavors of hara bhara kebab, shami kebab, and falafel will solve your purpose of a healthy and flavorful snack. So, you can bless your taste buds with these delicious wraps anytime. (https://shop.cornitos.in/collections/diy-kits-ready-to-cook-1)

Making Tortilla Wraps is one of the easiest things you can make for a quick snack. But, it’s even more tempting when it becomes a healthy option too. Cornitos Corn and wheat tortilla wraps are your healthy snacking partner this season. Using these wraps can never be a hassle and in fact, is a healthy option as these are gluten-free. So, don’t worry about cheating your diet with these healthy wraps. (https://shop.cornitos.in/collections/tortilla-wraps)

About Cornitos

Cornitos is the largest brand in the Nachos Crisps category in India.  Cornitos Brand Portfolio includes Nachos Crisps, Veggie Nachos, Taco Shells, Chunky Salsa Dips, Tortilla Wraps, DIY KITS, Corn Nuts, Party Mix, Super Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Roasted Premium Nuts - Cashews & Almonds, Coated Green Peas and Pickles - Jalapeno Peppers & Gherkins. Cornitos has an extensive distribution network across Pan India. Complete Range of Products available on Cornitos ecommerce website, Retail, E-Retail and Modern Trade stores. Institutional sales across through Airlines, Horeca, Multiplexes and Cafes. Cornitos products are exported globally, to the UK, Canada, Australia, Africa, Middle East and South-east Asia. Over the past year, Cornitos has been recognized for its range of flavors in different categories and quality products. In 2020, Cornitos was awarded with The Economic Times Best Brands 2020 Award in Snacks Category. Recently, the brand won ‘Free from Food Awards 2021’, UK.

About Greendot Health Foods

Greendot Health Foods Pvt Ltd was the first company to launch Nacho Crisps in Indian snacks. The production facility at Roorkee, Haridwar district, Uttarakhand, is equipped with state-of-the-art processing machinery and is manned by a team committed to quality. GHFL is ISO-22000, HACCP certified company. It also has registrations from FSSAI and US FDA.

Suguna Foods reiterates the importance of eggs as a rich source of nutrition on World Egg Day

 

Bengaluru: World Egg Day is observed across the globe to remind people of the health benefits and nutritional value eggs bring to the diet.Eggs, apart from being an extremely versatile cooking ingredient used in a variety of sweet and savoury dishes, are also incredibly nutritious and packed full of vitamins and minerals. This nutrient dense food is rich in protein and has the essential amino acids.

Suguna Foods Private Limited, India’s largest poultry enterprise, offers four varieties of value added speciality eggs, each fortified with specific vitamins, and nutrients to help maintain a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle for people of all age groups and health conditions.

“By offering various types of egg categories, we want to make sure that our consumers’ nutritional needs are supported, regardless of the age and lifestyle,” said a spokesperson from Suguna Foods Pvt Ltd. “We achieve differentiation in nutritional composition by feeding hens with meticulously curated feed so that the intended nutrients are absorbed by the eggs.”

The four categories of eggs that Suguna Foods offer are Active, Heart, Pro and Vitamin D.

Suguna Active is designed specifically for children, adults, pregnant women, lactating mothers and for those who have an active lifestyle and require additional nutrition.

Suguna Heart eggs are designed for health conscious people who prefer a low cholesterol egg combined with the benefits of Omega 3 and Vitamin E for longevity and a healthy heart.

Suguna Pro is a value-added, farm fresh egg that is rich in proteins and vitamins. The enrichment is done by giving special natural feed to the hens that are maintained in Suguna’s bio-security certified farms. The egg absorbs the nutrient properties from the hen’s diet.

Suguna Vitamin D is for all age groups and for those who have an active lifestyle and require additional nutrition.

For more information please visit https://sugunafoods.com/

For Media queries, please contact christy@brand-comm.com MB: 7619659932

Starbucks India Offers Free Limited Edition Reusable Cup on 2nd October, Inviting Customers on a Resource-Positive Journey

 

•  On October 2, Starbucks customers across the country will receive a limited-edition reusable cup on the purchase of any handcrafted beverage

•  Starbucks encourages its consumers to shift from single use cups to reusable cups as part of its ongoing global commitment to reduce its waste footprint by 50% by 2030

•  The gift will help make reusable cups a part of the Starbucks Experience for customers and partners around the world

In celebration of 50 years of coffee and connections globally, Starbucks India is gifting customers a limited-edition reusable cup on purchase of any handcrafted beverage on October 2nd. Coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, this initiative is in alignment with the company’s goal to reduce waste to landfills by 50% by 2030. Starbucks is encouraging customers to shift away from single use product consumption, championing the use of recycled content and promoting reusability.
 
In a first for the company globally, Starbucks India will offer promotions to motivate customers to reduce single use cup waste and adopt long-term sustainable behavior. With many customers keen to enjoy their favorite Starbucks beverages while on the go, Starbucks wants customers to adopt positive change by endorsing reusables as a part of their daily Starbucks ritual.
 
Commenting on the initiative, Sushant Dash, ceo, Tata Starbucks Pvt Ltd. said, “The global reusable cup initiative conceived in celebration of our milestone anniversary, reinforces our aspiration to be people and planet positive. Through this effort we invite our customers across the country to contribute their bit towards creating a better future for people and the planet we all share. We remain grounded in our mission to create and implement innovative solutions which positively impact the environment while maintaining a strong connection with our customers and giving back to the communities we serve.”
 
“As we mark our anniversary milestone, this reusable cup is our gift to customers and our invitation to join Starbucks on our journey to becoming a resource-positive-company,” said Sara Trilling, president, Starbucks Asia Pacific. “This step is only one part of many more to come. Together with our customers, we’re constantly innovating new ways to scale more sustainable solutions across the region.”
 
Starbucks has always been committed to doing business in ways that are beneficial to the people and planet. In their constant endeavor to adopt greener options, Starbucks has implemented sustainable initiatives like the use of compostable straws, wooden cutlery only on request, eliminating single-use plastic and shifting from single-use to recyclable packaging. Along with investing in innovative agricultural, reforestation and water conservation practices; better waste management in stores and in communities, the Bring Your Own Tumbler program; developing more eco-friendly operations and expanding plant-based and environmentally friendly menu options.
 
How it works:

1.  On October 2, every customer who buys a tall and above sized beverage will get a limited-edition reusable cup worth Rs. 300, Free!

2.  The offer will be available in all Starbucks outlets across the country and is applicable on delivery and Mobile Order and Pay as per conditions specified in the offer

3.  Customers who visit the store or order on 2nd October, will get 25% off on their next beverage between 3rd and 17th October as per conditions specified in the offer

4.  Customers are encouraged to bring back their cup when they next visit Starbucks to benefit from the BYO discount

October 2 not only represents a historical annual landmark for the country but also for Starbucks as the company aspires by this day alone to reach out to 2 million customers across the Asia Pacific region. With one cup replacing up to 30 single-use cups, the company aspires to create a culture of reuse amongst customers, partners (employees) and communities, bringing them together around a shared desire to do more for the planet. To build excitement ahead of October 2, Starbucks India partners have taken part in training and team activities, empowering them to promote sustainability in stores.

For more on how Starbucks is marking 50 years of inspiring and nurturing the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time – visit Starbucks Stories.
 
About Tata Starbucks Private Limited

Starbucks entered the Indian market in October 2012 through a 50/50 Joint Venture with Tata Consumer Products Ltd and currently operates 228 stores in India across 19 cities, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Lucknow, Amritsar, Kochi, Ludhiana, Bhopal, Indore, Kanpur and Jaipur through a network of over 2,000 passionate partners (employees). Starbucks stores are operated by the joint venture, TATA Starbucks Private Limited, and branded as Starbucks Coffee - “A Tata Alliance.