nurture.farm kickstarts its Sustainable Rice Program for Rabi’23, leading the transition to Sustainable Agriculture Practices

New Delhi, 08 Dec 2023: nurture.farm, India’s leading Agtech startup has rolled out its Sustainable Rice Program for the Rabi’23 season. Hundreds of farmers have pledged & joined the program to lead the change by transforming the way they cultivate rice. The program aims to make the rice value chain sustainable by implementing techniques that streamline cultivation practices, leveraging artificial intelligence & water conserving technologies to help farmers cultivate more from less, creating traceable data sets, improving soil health, and boosting farm productivity to deliver sustainable outcomes for the farmer, the buyer, and the environment.

 The implementation of the program is being monitored with the help of agri-industry experts & researchers from Regional Agriculture Research Station, Marateru under the leadership & guidance of Dr M Bharatalakshmi, Associate Director at the Institute. In addition to the institute partnership, leading ag-industry leaders like Mr Ashish Dobhal, CEO UPL SAS, are lending their support, guidance, and committing their resources to help make the program a success.

 Mr. Ashish Dobhal, CEO of UPL SAS, said, “India is the largest producer and consumer of rice, accounting for 21 per cent of the world’s total rice production. The rice cultivation alone contributes to 1.5% of total GHG emissions. Furthermore, rice cultivation requires a lot of water; flooded fields lead to the anaerobic decomposition of soil organic matter, which leads to methane emissions and impacts the soil quality, often leading to the leaching of nutrients and soil erosion resulting in reduced farm productivity. Thus making the transition to sustainable cultivation practices a necessity.

 The Sustainable Rice Program is a testament to the core mission of building a resilient and sustainable agriculture ecosystem for a brighter, inclusive and more abundant tomorrow. The program is unique and ambitious as it promises to deliver end-to-end implementation, helping improve yield quality, soil health, acreage, optimize input usage and water consumption, shorten crop cycles, boost farm productivity, and reduce the cost of cultivation while ensuring profitability and measurable sustainable impact on GHGs.”

 Mr Harshal Sonawane, Head of Sustainability at nurture.farm
“We are proud to launch the initiative as it is an opportunity to make history & contribute to the larger narrative of sustainable agriculture, helping usher in a new era of growth in harmony with nature. The program differentiates itself from other sustainable rice programs owing to its unique sustainability framework & the number of verifiable interventions we plan to deploy.

 Farmers are on boarded to the program via physical & digital touch points on thAe nurture.farm app. We ensure that participating farmers are extensively trained on good agricultural practices and sustainable rice cultivation techniques and consistently monitor the implementation of the practices at the ground level. Furthermore, participating farmers will receive competitive financial incentives, learn about yield optimization techniques, gain insights on soil health and receive timely advisory & support from our fleet on ground to ensure profitable & sustainable cultivation of rice.

The sustainability impact on the ecosystem, be it water savings, implications for preservation of biodiversity, carbon sequestration, etc, will be measurable, verifiable & traceable. These data sets can be compared pre & post-implementation to test the efficacy of the program. The program will help mitigate up to 50% of methane emissions, reduce water usage in rice cultivation by 30%, reduce input costs for farmers by INR 500 /acre and improve yield by up to 10%.”

 With a focus on driving change at the grassroots level, nurture.farm’s Sustainable Rice Program aims to educate and train smallholder farmers, improve their access to technology and know-how, and help them cultivate profitably without compromising yield, soil health, and the environment. The pilot is being implemented in AP & Telangana to the tune of 10,000 acres, with more than 5,000 farmers already signed up for the program, and it is set to scale to more than 1 million acres by 2030. The program is designed to make the entire rice value chain sustainable, ensuring fair value for farmers on a large scale.

Genesys Named a Leader by the IDC MarketScape for General Purpose Conversational AI Software

Bengaluru, December 08, 2023 —Genesys®, a global cloud leader in AI-powered experience orchestration, was named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide General Purpose Conversational AI Software 2023 Vendor Assessment. The global market intelligence firm recognized the strength of Genesys AI for its extensive conversational and generative capabilities, which help organizations transform customer and employee experiences.

 “Genesys is consistently delivering AI innovations and deepening the native capabilities within our experience orchestration platform, Genesys Cloud,” said Olivier Jouve, executive vice president and chief product officer at Genesys. “We believe worldwide recognition from the IDC MarketScape validates the strength of our strategic roadmap focused on accelerating the delivery of conversational, predictive and generative AI solutions to help every brand drive loyalty and business outcomes through superior customer and employee experiences.”

 Customer demand for the company’s capabilities has risen with the number of organizations deploying three or more native Genesys AI solutions increasing more than 8X year-over-year in the second quarter of its fiscal year 2024 (May 1–July 31, 2023) alone.

 According to the IDC MarketScape report, “Genesys provides a broad range of conversational AI and other features for customer support, workforce engagement, sales and marketing. Over the past few years, it has also been steadily acquiring and building AI capabilities that are now embedded across its platform.”

 The IDC MarketScape report also noted organizations should “consider Genesys if you are looking for a cloud-based enterprise conversational AI platform that works across the customer and employee experience to provide features such as agent assist, self-service question answering, automated outreach and predictive call routing.”

 The IDC MarketScape measures success across two categories: capabilities and strategies. A vendor’s position reflects its current capabilities, menu of services, how well those services are aligned to customer needs and how well a vendor’s strategy aligns with what customers will require in three to five years.

 The report highlighted additional key strengths for Genesys, including the company’s strong partner network. IDC MarketScape stated, “Genesys has a large network of integration, implementation and sales partners that help it support a wide variety of organizations.”

 “Over the past few years, Genesys has been delivering on its commitment to infuse AI throughout its contact center as a service offering — building, acquiring, and incorporating new AI-powered features into a single framework with Genesys Cloud,” said Hayley Sutherland, research manager, conversational AI & knowledge discovery at IDC. “With a focus on features that can enhance ease of use, improve efficiency and increase both customer and employee satisfaction, Genesys is helping customers to quickly gain return on investment from conversational AI and is well-positioned to take advantage of the latest advances in generative AI and large language models.”

AISECT Group celebrates and honours employees at the Aspire Awards ceremony

National, 08th December 2023: To celebrate the accomplishments of its employees, AISECT Group organized the Aspire Awards on 2nd December. During this programme, a session on the topic “Masterclass for Peak Performance” was organized by International Business Coach Dr. Ujjwal Patni where he shared the mantras of success with the audience.

He touched upon the C.O.R.E Leader Strategy saying that an organization looks for four things in its employees, the first of which is – Committed to Completion i.e. employees who think of completing the work and not procrastinating, second – is Organization First. That is, employees always progress in the organization who keep the organization as the priority, third – role models for others i.e. live life in such a way that they become an inspiration to others, fourth – excellence oriented i.e. to do the work in the best possible way.

 He also shared 12 habits of success and mentioned if any person adopts them in life, it will lead them to a successful career. These habits include starting the day with gratitude, praying daily for what you want to achieve, prioritizing the day’s tasks, and presenting yourself to others in the best possible way, which includes improving your personality and dressing up.

 Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi, Executive Vice President of AISECT highlighted the 38-year journey of AISECT Group and talked about the way forward possibilities. He expressed his gratitude to all the AISECT employees who came from across the country and extended best wishes to the colleagues who were honored today.

 Santosh Choubey, Chairman of AISECT Group, said in his statement “The journey of AISECT was started with 6-7 people. Today we stand at more than 2500 employees. We were able to overcome the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year we have started the sixth university with Scope Global Skill University, we extend a special  welcome to AISECT’s colleagues from North-East and South India in the program where the group is rapidly expanding its work.”

 Later, AISECT employees were awarded across various categories in the program. The program was concluded with the cultural activities where the employees performed activities like singing, dancing etc. The ceremony also featured a musical live performance by Derek Nathaniel’s band. The program was attended by Dr. Pallavi Rao Chaturvedi Executive Vice President of AISECT Group, Dr. Aditi Chaturvedi Vats Director of AISECT University Group and other officials of AISECT Group.

Ahmedabad’s Winter Wonderland: A Festive Journey for the Whole Family!

Key Highlights:
● Ahmedabad, known for its vibrancy, unveils the 2nd edition of its Winter Wonderland, a magical Christmas event filled with play, creativity, and holiday spirit, to be hosted on 16th & 17th December 2023.
● Joining forces with renowned brands like Lego, Skilmatics, DIY Science, Imagimake, Make It Real, Paw Patrol, Toycra and many more, this Winter Wonderland promises a joyous and hassle-free Christmas outing with all activities included.

8th December 2023, India-wide release: Embrace the magic of Christmas as Ahmedabad announces the return of the highly anticipated 2nd edition of Winter Wonderland at Merriment Party Plot, SBR on 16th and 17th December. This carnival, anticipating over 2,000 delighted visitors, marks a grand milestone for the city, spreading joy and wonder for a decade. Committed to nurturing child development through play, Winter Wonderland offers an immersive and magical experience for families.

 Special events and performances featuring authentic Christmas carols and storytelling will captivate visitors, transporting both children and adults into the enchanting world of wonder. This Christmas celebration is not just an event; it’s a testament to the city’s commitment to fostering the magic of childhood, where play, creativity, and the holiday spirit converge to create lasting memories.

 Beloved brands such as Lego, Toycra, Paw Patrol, Make It Real, Skillmatics, Imagimake, Kalakaram, Sam & Mi, SIS Prep, Geronimo Stilton, Dog Man, Knotty Heads, Gambol, and many more have collaborated to craft a magical Wonderland of Experiences that promises to ignite the imagination and captivate the hearts of children and families.

 Once inside, enjoy all-inclusive fun with make-and-take activities worth THOUSANDS, ensuring every moment is filled with delight and wonder. Parents can relish the joyful atmosphere while the kids engage in creative activities.

 It’s not just about play; the event also offers a scrumptious food curation with beautiful decor, completing the experience of a magical Christmas family outing. The joy and warmth of the season are wrapped into every corner of Ahmedabad’s Winter Wonderland.

“This is the best Christmas gift for your little one,” says Virang Shah, Co-founder of Toycra. “Watch them fill up their goodie bags with keepsakes and enjoy memorable experiences that will be cherished for a lifetime.”

 “We are thrilled to be part of Ahmedabad’s Winter Wonderland, offering creative toys that bridge development and entertainment. Our range, from Mapology to Quill On, fosters holistic child development through fun and innovation. We are looking forward to create a fun-memorable experience,” says Imagimake.

 Make this Christmas truly special for your family at Ahmedabad’s Winter Wonderland, where joy, wonder, and play come together in perfect harmony.

 Hurry, grab your Early Bird Tickets now for the most magical Christmas event in town! Booking will close soon, and there won’t be any on-ground ticket sales. Don’t miss the festive fun – grab your tickets now before it’s too late. Book Now!

 When & Where:
Dates: 16th and 17th December 2023 – (Same activities both days, so need to purchase a ticket for any 1 day)
Time: 4 to 11 pm
Location: Merriment Party Plot, SBR

Brand Solution Agency Cab Experiences curates the Mumbai Edition of ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’

India, 8th December 2023 Mumbai: The Mumbai edition of ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ scheduled to take place in December, will represent the cultural diversity and unity of India, through the medium of the Indian textile, the traditional saree. The national event organized by the Ministry of Textiles and Government of India is being curated by Cab Experiences, a brand solution agency known for its bold ideas, creativity and impactful brand transformations. The event with a mix of activities, coinciding with an exhibition-cum-sales- “Gandhi Shilp Bazaar- National” is organized with the objective to promote Handloom sari culture in India, inviting participation of women from various strata of society, showcasing distinctive ways of draping the sari, hereby presenting India as a country having “Unity in Diversity”.

 The event’s core is women, representing diverse backgrounds, uniting in a Walkathon wearing sarees. This will symbolize the beautiful union of women from varied walks of life, standing together for a common cause for the nation.

 Previously, the walkathon was successfully held in Surat with 15000 sari-clad women walking together showcasing Indian culture. The Mumbai edition of ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ will also exhibit the rich cultural diversity of the country and will jointly be driven by a Member of Lok Sabha, Union State Minister of Textiles, Ms. Darshana Jardosh and Member of Parliament Ms. Poonam Mahajan. The event will also witness celebrities across industry like Anita Dongre, Shaina NC, Faye D’Souza, Sonali Bendre, Amruta Fadnavis, Mini Mathur, Sonali Kulkarni, Arpita Mehta and many more.

The walkathon will be a tribute to the rich legacy of the Indian handloom industry and will see the enthusiastic participation of 5000 women including leading women professionals, Bollywood and television celebrities, sports personalities, businesswomen, designers, influencers, homemakers, women from the music industry as well as transgender/ LGBTQ activists.

 Among the many strong influential personalities will be Faye D’souza, Anita Dongre, Dr. Jaishree Sharad, Sonali Bendre, Dolly Jain, Shaina NC, and Amruta Fadnavis. The event will also see Angadwadi women considered as the main frontline health workers in India and women from the Koli community- one of the biggest indigenous groups in Maharashtra renowned for their extensive cultural legacy and traditions. The walkathon aims to bring all these extraordinary women personalities under a unified platform of One Bharat Sari Walkathon – to walk with pride for the nation, upholding the power of the traditional saree that symbolizes women’s empowerment and cultural identity. Mumbai being the financial capital of India, the event will also be promoting the cause of financial independence as the underlying theme for the Walkathon. This message will be driven through participating brands, celebrities and the media.

MOS Ms Darshana Jardosh added, “The ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ event holds particular significance in Mumbai, the financial capital of India, where the spirit of womanhood is deeply embedded in every aspect of its existence. The participation of women from various backgrounds, draped in saris representing their distinct regional styles, will create a beautiful tapestry of diversity. This not only resonates with the vibrant essence of Mumbai but also adds a layer of deep cultural significance to the walkathon. By combining the economic, cultural, and regional elements, the ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ is poised to make a meaningful impact, celebrating the unity in diversity that characterizes India while simultaneously promoting the enduring legacy of handloom craftsmanship.”

 Ms Poonam Mahajan, Member of Parliament – Lok Sabha, said, “I believe that sari is not just a garment but a symbol of women’s financial independence and freedom. The ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ aims to bring women on a platform that supports the Indian textile industry and promotes women empowerment. Regardless of whether it’s the CEO of a multinational company or a Koli woman from the indigenous Maharashtrian tribe, each participant will walk the marathon adorned in a traditional saree. This unification through the dignity of labor and a shared love for Indian culture will be the common thread among all participants.”

Rajesh KV, Founder Partner & Director of CAB Experiences, was quoted as, “ I am thrilled to share that the ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ is set to make history by bringing together an incredibly diverse group of women. From the vibrant Koli community to dedicated Anganwadi women, accomplished professionals, passionate transgender and LGBTQ activists, to the heart and soul of our homes, the homemakers – this walkathon will unfold as a tapestry of inclusivity, representing the very essence of our country and its rich culture. What makes this event truly unique is the unprecedented collaboration of women from all walks of life. It goes beyond being a simple walkathon; it’s a powerful narrative of encouragement and support for women’s empowerment. A key aspect of this narrative will be positioning the sari as a national symbol and a source of pride for India.”

 The overarching strategy for the “One Bharat Sari Walkathon” is to transform it into a prominent brand narrative that not only highlights the cultural and economic significance of Indian textiles, especially saris, but also aligns with the cause of empowering women financially. The goal is to establish the walkathon as a platform for impactful collaborations with multiple brands and associations that share a commitment to women’s financial empowerment. This strategic focus not only ties the walkathon to the broader narrative of India’s progress but also creates a sense of national identity and unity around the sari. The aim is to make the “One Bharat Sari Walkathon” a dynamic and influential platform that fosters positive change, promotes economic empowerment, and celebrates the cultural heritage of India. It also involves crafting compelling stories and messages that resonate with a diverse audience, emphasizing the walkathon as more than just an event. The focus will be on building emotional connections and showcasing how the association with India, the sari, and various causes can attract a wide range of brands and personalities. By aligning with the CSR goals of participating brands, the platform becomes an avenue for them to contribute to positive social impact.

 The vision for the future of the ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ is global expansion, transcending borders to replicate the event across India and abroad. This ambitious endeavor aims to showcase inclusivity by delving into diverse facets of identity and fashion on a worldwide stage. In this vision, the walkathon becomes a catalyst for tangible change – increasing the income of weavers and instilling a sense of pride in their craft. The event is not just a fashion statement; it’s a movement with a profound social, cultural, and economic impact on local communities and an indelible mark on the world stage.

5 Companies Redefining Success with #VocalForLocal Initiative

Amid India’s growing emphasis on the #VocalForLocal movement, these companies shine brightly, demonstrating that expanding their global presence doesn’t mean compromising their local roots. They not only rejoice in the vibrant tapestry of Indian cultures but also play a pivotal role in nurturing and sustaining local businesses. These impactful campaigns go beyond fleeting trends, serving as a resounding reminder that championing homegrown art and artisans is a dynamic movement that not only captivates consumers within India but reverberates globally.

Today, let’s turn our focus to five companies that have wholeheartedly embraced the #VocalForLocal ethos in India, seamlessly integrating it into their campaigns with authenticity and impact.

 Protium:

Championing MSMEs: Protium takes center stage in the #VocalForLocal movement, advocating for and supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The campaign reflects their dedication to empowering small businesses, addressing the challenges they face in a competitive market, especially during festive season.

Protium is guided by a strong moral compass to support small businesses, which often grapple with the challenges posed by intense competition and the allure of more expensive alternatives.

Protium reaffirmed its commitment to the #VocalForLocal campaign, carrying forward the spirit that has ignited positive change over the past years. The campaign’s essence revolved around the idea of encouraging individuals to embrace and support local businesses, with a special focus on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the backbone of our nation’s economy.

This resounding success of the campaign underscored Protium’s commitment to the #VocalForLocal principles, emphasizing that collective efforts truly empower small businesses and fortify our local economy.

MobiKwik:

Local Merchant Partnerships: MobiKwik, another prominent player in the Indian fintech space, has collaborated with local merchants to promote digital payments. Their initiatives often focus on supporting local businesses and driving financial inclusion, aligning with the #VocalforLocal campaign.

MobiKwik’s strong focus on financial inclusion and commitment to serving traditionally underserved markets, such as tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, rural areas, and lower-income brackets, sets them apart from its peers. At MobiKwik, the digital payment services have been used in 19,103 pin codes out of 19,253 in India, covering 99.2% of India’s PIN codes.

At MobiKwik, innovation has been a driving force for us to differentiate ourselves in a highly competitive landscape.

 Paytm:

Local Initiatives: Paytm, one of India’s leading fintech companies, has been active in promoting local businesses through its platform. They have supported various local campaigns, encouraging users to shop from nearby stores and promoting local merchants.

 PhonePe:

 Boost for Local Merchants: PhonePe, a popular digital payments platform, has been actively involved in initiatives to support local businesses. They have introduced features and campaigns to encourage users to transact with local merchants, contributing to the #VocalforLocal movement.

 Razorpay:

Empowering Small Businesses: Razorpay, a fintech company specializing in payment solutions, has shown support for local businesses through various initiatives. They have provided tools and technologies that empower small businesses, aligning with the ethos of the #VocalforLocal movement.