Indian Potash Limited and UPL Sustainable Agri Solutions Join Hands to Drive Sustainable Sugarcane Transformation in Gujarat

New Delhi, July 3 : UPL Sustainable Agri Solutions Limited  , a provider of sustainable agriculture solutions, and Indian Potash Limited , one of India’s largest fertilizer importers, suppliers, and distributors and a major player in the sugar sector, have entered into a three-year collaboration agreement to enhance sugarcane productivity, sustainability, and farmer prosperity in the catchment area of IPL’s Kodinar Sugar Mill in Gujarat.

The partnership aims to implement regenerative agriculture practices, advanced agronomy, crop protection, nutrition management, digitalization, and farmer capacity-building initiatives across approximately 2,000 acres of sugarcane cultivation. The program is expected to improve sugarcane yields by a minimum of 15 percent, while supporting resource efficiency, profitability, and climate-smart agricultural practices.

Under the agreement, UPL SAS will deploy a dedicated Program Officer to lead field-level implementation and farmer engagement activities. The initiative will focus on optimizing key agricultural resources including seed, soil, water, fertilizer use, and crop residue management while promoting sustainable crop protection and nutrition solutions tailored to local conditions.

A key component of the collaboration will be the digital transformation of farmer services through the nurture.farm platform, enabling farmer onboarding, geofencing, monitoring of interventions, and impact documentation. The program will also utilize digital communication channels such as WhatsApp and YouTube to accelerate knowledge dissemination and farmer adoption of innovative technologies.

The collaboration is expected to deliver multiple benefits for stakeholders across the sugar value chain:

• Improved sugarcane productivity and cane availability for IPL’s Kodinar Sugar Mill.
• Enhanced crushing capacity utilization and operational efficiency.
• Increased farmer income through adoption of Good Agronomic Practices and regenerative agriculture.
• Reduction in water, fertilizer, and energy consumption.
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions across the sugarcane value chain.
• Acceleration of sustainability and climate commitments of both Organizations.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. U. S. Teotia, Chief Agricultural Scientist, Indian Potash Limited, Said:

“Indian Potash Limited is committed to supporting farmers through innovative and sustainable agricultural solutions. This partnership with UPL will help strengthen our farmer engagement efforts, improve cane productivity, and contribute to the long-term growth and competitiveness of our Kodinar Sugar operations, The integration of scientific agronomy, digital monitoring, and regenerative farming practices can significantly enhance sugarcane productivity while conserving natural resources. We look forward to creating a model that can be replicated across other sugarcane-growing regions.”

Harshal Sonawane, Head – Sustainability, UPL Sustainable Agri Solutions Limited, added:

“This collaboration reflects UPL‘s commitment to building sustainable and resilient agricultural value chains. By combining science-based agronomy, digital tools, regenerative agriculture, and farmer-centric solutions, we aim to create measurable improvements in productivity, profitability, and environmental outcomes for sugarcane farmers.”

The program will involve extensive farmer outreach through one-on-one advisory services, group meetings, training programs, demonstration plots, field days, and harvest events. Both organizations will work closely to drive adoption of recommended Packages of Practices , monitor progress, and measure impact throughout the project duration.

This collaboration represents a significant step toward creating a more productive, profitable, and sustainable sugarcane ecosystem while supporting India’s agricultural sustainability and climate goals.

NSSH Programme Strengthens SC, ST Small Businesses

New Delhi, July 3: The Government’s National SC/ST Hub (NSSH) scheme is helping Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs scale up their businesses by improving access to credit, market linkages, and capacity-building support.

Officials said the initiative is designed to strengthen entrepreneurship among SC and ST communities by providing structured support to micro and small enterprises, enabling them to become more competitive and sustainable.

Through the scheme, entrepreneurs receive assistance in areas such as business development, skill enhancement, procurement opportunities, and integration with larger supply chains. This has helped many small enterprises expand operations and explore new markets.

The programme also focuses on improving access to government and private sector procurement opportunities, helping beneficiaries participate more actively in the formal economy.

Officials noted that the initiative is contributing to inclusive growth by encouraging self-reliance and promoting wider participation of SC and ST entrepreneurs in India’s economic development.

Slower Growth in Services as India PMI Eases to 57.4

New Delhi, July 3: India’s services sector recorded a slower pace of expansion in June, with the HSBC India Services PMI declining to 57.4 from 59.8 in May, indicating easing momentum in domestic demand.

The latest reading marks the weakest growth in services activity in 17 months, although it remains above the 50-point mark that separates expansion from contraction.

The moderation was mainly driven by the slowest increase in new orders in over two-and-a-half years. While some firms benefited from stronger e-commerce activity, tourism demand, and competitive pricing, others reported weaker client interest and challenging market conditions.

Employment levels remained largely unchanged during the month, suggesting cautious hiring trends among service providers. However, export demand showed relative strength, with new overseas orders rising at the fastest pace in three months.

Economists say the data points to a cooling in domestic demand, even as overall sector activity continues to expand at a healthy level.

India Real Estate Draws Robust Institutional Demand Worth Dollar 4.5 Billion

New Delhi, July 3 (UDN): India’s real estate sector attracted institutional investments worth $4.5 billion during January–June 2026, marking a sharp 50 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

The significant rise in inflows reflects growing investor confidence in India’s property market, driven by strong demand across commercial, residential, and logistics segments. Institutional investors continue to show interest in both major urban centres and emerging real estate corridors.

Industry observers attribute the upward trend to steady economic growth, improved infrastructure development, and favourable policy support, which have collectively strengthened market sentiment.

Commercial real estate and warehousing assets remained key drivers of investment activity, while residential projects also witnessed steady participation from institutional players.

Experts believe that sustained economic momentum and urban expansion are likely to keep investor interest strong in the coming months, further supporting sectoral growth.