27-Feb-2019: ICAR-NRRI developed Mobile app “riceXpert”
The ICAR-NRRI ‘ricexpert’ App provides information to farmers in real time on insect pests, nutrients, weeds, nematodes and disease-related problems, rice varieties for different ecologies, farm implements for different field and post-harvest operations. It is a web-based application systems which facilitates flow of information from the farmer to the farm scientist and get their instant solution. Farmers can use this App as a diagnostic tool in their rice fields and make customize queries for quick solution of their problems by sending text, photo and recorded voice and solution received through SMS.
The App is developed for Android platform and can be downloaded from Google Play Store or from www.nrri.in or from www.crri.nic.in web portal. This APP is very useful tool for the researchers, students and village level workers working on rice crop.
At present, around 5000 users have downloaded the app and being used by them. Around 145 queries from the users have been received from the users and being addressed by panel of experts of NRRI and the solution are being sent to them through SMS.
12-Feb-2019: 1st Aqua Mega Food Park in Andhra Pradesh
Union Minister Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal commissioned Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park at Tundurru Village in Bhimavaram Mandal, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh via video conferencing. The park is promoted by M/s Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park Pvt. Ltd. This is the 1st Mega Aqua Food Park operationalised exclusively established for fish and marine products processing in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Smt. Pushpa Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries commissioned the Park on behalf of the Minister Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal in her presence through video conferencing.
Another Mega Food Park sanctioned by the Ministry in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh has already been inaugurated on 9th of July 2012. The 3rd Mega Food Park sanctioned by the Ministry in Andhra Pradesh is under implementation at Krishna District.
M/s Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park Pvt. Ltd has been set up in 57.81 acre of land at a cost of Rs. 122.60 crores. The facilities created by the developer at Central Processing Centre (CPC) of this Mega Food Park include Pre-processing line for Fish of 1.5 TPH, Pre-processing line for shrimp of 1.5 TPH, Freezing of Fish of 1.5 TPH, Freezing of Shrimp of 1.5 TPH, Cold Storage for Fish of 2000MT, Cold Storage for Shrimp of 1000MT, Ice plant, Food Testing Laboratory besides state of art enabling infrastructure.
The Park also has a common Administrative building for office and other uses by the entrepreneurs and 2 PPCs at Amalapuram EG-District & Karlapalem, Guntur District having facilities for primary processing and storage near the farms in the catchment area to benefit farmers. This Mega Food Park will benefit the people of West Godavari-District as well as nearby Districts of East Godavari, Krishna of Andhra Pradesh and nearby districts of Telangana.
The modern infrastructure for food processing created at Park will benefit the farmers, growers, processors and consumers of Andhra Pradesh and adjoining areas immensely and prove to be a big boost to the growth of the food processing sector in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
The Minister thanked the State Government for the support extended by them in setting up the Mega Food Park.
Background: To give a major boost to the food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of the supply chain with particular focus on perishables, Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing Mega Food Park Scheme in the country. Mega Food Parks create modern infrastructure facilities for food processing along the value chain from farm to market with strong forward and backward linkages through a cluster based approach. Common facilities and enabling infrastructure is created at Central Processing Centre and facilities for primary processing and storage is created near the farm in the form of Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) and Collection Centers (CCs). Under the Scheme, Government of India provides financial assistance upto Rs. 50.00 Crore per Mega Food Park project.
10-Feb-2019: Surging Silk, Mega Event Held in New Delhi
Buniyaad Tasar Silk Reeling Machines were distributed to women reelers from tribal areas at a function organised by the Ministry of Textiles and Central Silk Board in New Delhi. The distribution of the machine is part of total eradication of the age old practice of thigh reeling and to ensure rightful earning to the poor rural and tribal woman reelers in Tasar silk sector. The machine developed by Central Silk Technological Research Institute in association with an entrepreneur from Champa in Chhattisgarh will improve the quality and productivity of Tasar silk yarn and reduce the drudgery of women. It is planned to eradicate thigh reeling and replace it with Buniyaad reeling machine by end of March 2020.
Woman reelers using the traditional method earn approximately Rs.125/- per day while a Tasar reeler using Buniyaad machine can earn Rs.350/- per day. The machine is priced at Rs.8,475/- per unit excluding taxes and transportation charges.
During the event, best achievers of silk industry across various segments of sericulture were honoured. Awards were also given to the best performing states. A mobile application e-cocoon was launched for quality certification in silkworm seed sector. A compendium on Indian silk industry and state sericulture profile was also released on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of External Affairs, Smt. Sushma Swaraj assured the Textiles ministry to provide all support for promoting global trade of silk. She said that silk is a strong commodity and there is a huge demand for it in the international market. Talking about the popularity of Indian silk saree, Smt. Swaraj said her counterparts during the United Nations General Assembly meetings, often ask about the wide variety of colour, pattern and different designs of these fabrics. Smt. Swaraj said that the efforts of Textiles Minister to eradicate thigh reeling in Tasar sector with Buniyaad machines clearly demonstrates her concern for the women folk and will certainly help improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal families engaged in the production of silk. The External Affairs Minister urged the Textiles Ministry to strive for eliminating the practice of thigh reeling this year by distributing these equipment.
Union Minister of Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani in her address said that silk production has increased by 41 per cent since 2013-14. The Textiles Minister said the Buniyaad reeling machine will not only rid the woman reelers of the painful practice of thigh reeling but also enhance their income and help them live a dignified life. Smriti Zubin Irani said that the mobile app e-cocoon will help quality certification in silk worm sector. She informed that the mobile application will be used by the Seed Analysts and Seed Officers nominated under Central Seed Act for system and product certification through real time reporting. Besides covering a large number of stake holders – registered seed producers (RSP) and Registered Chawkie Rearers(RCR), the essentially required systems with the RSP, RCR and silkworm eggs and the silkworm reared worms will be effectively monitored.
India is the second largest producer of silk after China and the largest consumer of silk. India's silk production capacity is expected to reach about 38,500 tonnes by 2020 from the current level of 32,000 tonnes.