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At the 11th Indian Horticulture Congress in Bengaluru, Amal Mahaling Nayak, a Padmasree awardee from Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, was honored with the IAHS fellowship for his pioneering work in developing an organic agricultural farm featuring a zero-energy micro irrigation system. During the event, ML Jat, Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), urged researchers to prioritize nutrient-dense, underutilized crops to enhance local food systems and public health. He emphasized the need for collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to connect agricultural research with nutrition. Jat also highlighted the importance of traditional crops for nutritional security and climate resilience, advocating for an integrated agricultural ecosystem. Former ICAR Director General RS Paroda noted the horticulture sector's growing significance in nutrition, while SK Singh, President of the Indian Academy of Horticultural Sciences, outlined the conference's objectives and the society's contributions to horticulture in India. 
Published: Nov 06 2025, 7 pmeznews.inVernacular digital platform Lokal has unveiled AgriLokal, an innovative agritech solution designed to connect farmers directly with expert agronomists in their native languages. This initiative aims to address significant challenges in Indian agriculture, where nearly 80% of farmers lack formal training, resulting in inefficiencies and reduced productivity. AgriLokal provides instant access to agronomic advice on crucial topics such as soil health and pest control, enabling farmers to enhance yields and lower costs without leaving their villages. Alongside AgriLokal, Lokal has also launched Sahi Jobs, a job marketplace for blue- and grey-collar workers, furthering its mission to empower 900 million native-language internet users. Co-Founder Jani Pasha emphasized the company's commitment to addressing everyday challenges in Bharat through dependable, language-first platforms. Both AgriLokal and Sahi Jobs are available on the Google Play Store, with plans for rapid expansion and improved user experience through AI and community feedback.
Published: Nov 06 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) has made significant strides in empowering rural communities, directly engaging with 8.25 lakh of the 25 lakh households involved in sustainable livelihood programmes. According to a recent press release, PRADAN has enabled over 66,000 households to exceed annual earnings of ₹2.5 lakh through high-return models, while 5 lakh households now earn over ₹1 lakh annually. The organisation has also promoted 93 women-led farmer producer organisations (FPOs), benefiting 1.43 lakh women and achieving an annual turnover of ₹1.2 billion. PRADAN's initiatives, including the Agriculture Production Cluster programme, have reached 8.13 lakh households, enhancing agricultural resilience and market access. Executive Director Saroj Kumar Mahapatra emphasized the importance of community-led change, stating that PRADAN aims to transform 50 million lives by 2030 through sustainable and inclusive economic practices.
Published: Nov 06 2025, 8 pmeznews.inM Nagaraju, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services, emphasized the need for India to expand its banking framework to achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. Speaking at the State Bank of India banking conclave, he advocated for granting more bank licenses to non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) and transitioning small finance banks (SFBs) to universal banks. Nagaraju highlighted the importance of digital credit offtake and the necessity for banks to cater to diverse segments of the population. He noted that while many large NBFCs are backed by corporate groups, the Reserve Bank of India restricts these entities from obtaining bank licenses due to potential conflicts of interest. To realize the vision of a $30 trillion GDP and a per capita income of $20,000-$22,000 by 2047, he stressed the need for banks to focus on agriculture, micro, small, and medium enterprises, and education loans, with an annual credit growth target of 13%.
Published: Nov 06 2025, 8 pmeznews.inAgritech firm Arya.ag has announced plans to expand its network of Smart Farm Centres (SFCs) from 17 to 250 by April 2027, enhancing support for farmers across five states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. These centres provide essential agricultural services, including soil testing, drone spraying, and weather analytics, at no cost to farmers, funded through partnerships with startups like BharatRohan and Neoperk. Co-founder and CEO Prasanna Rao emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing agricultural challenges, noting that the SFCs have already connected with around 30 farmer producer organizations (FPOs). Arya.ag aims to increase its turnover by 30-35% this fiscal year, targeting ₹3,000 crore in credit disbursal by FY26, up from ₹2,400 crore in FY25. The company continues to focus on collateral lending while offering farmers access to storage facilities and financial support from partner banks.
Published: Nov 06 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn a mixed day for Indian markets, the SENSEX closed at 83,311.01, down 148.14 points, while the NIFTY fell by 87.95 points to settle at 25,509.70. Crude oil prices also dipped, decreasing by 30.00 to reach 5,275.00. In contrast, gold saw a rise, gaining 405.00 to reach 120,927.00, while silver increased by 421.00, closing at 147,742.00. Meanwhile, HyFun Foods has launched a new range of frozen snacks, including Mumbai Aloo Vada, Hash Brown Mini Triangles, and Juicy Momos, aimed at enhancing convenience and taste for Indian households. Managing Director Haresh Karamchandani emphasized the brand's commitment to innovation, blending traditional Indian flavors with global influences to make snacking easier and more enjoyable during the winter season. This launch reflects HyFun's dedication to providing high-quality frozen food options for various occasions.
Published: Nov 06 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe fourth International Symposium on Marine Ecosystems (MECoS 4) concluded with a call for ecosystem-based, multi-species management to bolster India's blue economy and ensure sustainable marine resource use. Key recommendations included prioritizing women's empowerment and startup support, alongside targeted capacity building for women and young professionals in marine sectors. The symposium, organized by the Marine Biological Association of India and CMFRI, also advocated for integrating climate resilience into fisheries management, enhancing public-private partnerships in mariculture, and establishing centres of excellence for research and policy support. A Bijukumar, Vice Chancellor of KUFOS, emphasized the importance of collaboration in maximizing marine ecosystem potential. Meanwhile, marine scientists warned that polar regions are warming nearly four times faster than the global average, with significant implications for global sea levels and marine ecosystems, as highlighted by Thamban Meloth from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research.
Published: Nov 06 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's marine mammal research is set to advance significantly with the adoption of Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), a technology that captures underwater sounds to track whales and dolphins from several kilometres away. Discussed at the fourth International Symposium on Marine Ecosystem (MECOS4) at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, experts highlighted PAM's advantages over traditional visual surveys, as sound travels faster and farther underwater, allowing for continuous monitoring in challenging conditions. The technology employs various systems, including bottom-mounted moorings and acoustic tags, to gather data on marine mammals' presence, abundance, and migration patterns. Divya Panicker from Ashoka University noted that integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning could further enhance species identification. With India's extensive coastline and rich marine biodiversity, developing indigenous acoustic systems could revolutionise conservation efforts for marine mammals, marking a significant step forward in ecological research.
Published: Nov 06 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has reported that the years 2023 to 2025 are among the hottest on record, with 2025 projected to be the second or third hottest year, as global temperatures soar approximately 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels. The WMO's State of the Global Climate Update highlights alarming trends, including record-low Arctic sea ice and rising ocean heat content, which is exacerbating sea-level rise. The long-term rate of sea-level increase has nearly doubled since the early 2000s, driven by thermal expansion and glacier melt, with 2024 marking a record high for global mean sea level. Greenhouse gas concentrations also reached unprecedented levels in 2024, raising concerns about the feasibility of limiting warming to 1.5°C. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo and UN Secretary-General António Guterres have called for urgent climate action, emphasizing the need for enhanced forecasting and risk preparedness to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Published: Nov 06 2025, 7 pmeznews.inAt the 12th SBI Banking and Economics Conclave in Mumbai on November 6, 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the need for India to develop several large, world-class banks to support the government's vision of transforming the nation into a developed economy by 2047. She stated that discussions with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and existing banks are essential to explore how to achieve this goal, highlighting that simply merging existing banks may not suffice. Currently, only two Indian banks, SBI and HDFC Bank, rank among the world's 100 largest by assets. Sitharaman reiterated the necessity for at least four or five banks of SBI's size to meet the economy's growing demands. Additionally, she addressed futures and options trading, affirming the government's intent to inform investors about associated risks, and praised recent GST reforms as a catalyst for economic growth.
Published: Nov 06 2025, 7 pm
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