
Kisan drones brought in revolution in agriculture, says A.P. MSME Minister
Minister for MSME Kondapalli Srinivas on Saturday said that 'kisan drones' brought in a revolution in agriculture with the reduction in usage of fertilizers and seeds. He urged the farmers to use the drones collectively to minimise the investment in agriculture. He handed over the kisan drones and distributed seeds to the farmers in a programme organised at Gajapathinagaram in Vizianagaram district.
He said that 24 drones were sanctioned to the district and the first one was handed over at Gajapathinagaram as the farmers contributed ₹4.8 lakh of the ₹9.8 lakh total value of the drone. He said that the government would provide subsidy to the farmers under Rashtriya Kisan Vikas Yojana scheme.
Vizianagaram District Agriculture Officer V.T. Ramarao said that as many as eight drones would be delivered soon as the farmers paid their contribution with the support of bankers. He urged them to use the drones under the supervision of drone operators at the initial stage. The Minister added that the maintenance cost was also very little when it came to kisan drones.

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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
How an increase in R&D spending can boost the small business ecosystem
The Economic Survey 2024-25 pointed out that India is falling behind in research and development (R&D), revealing a notable disparity across key sectors. In fact, there is a stark difference in the gross expenditure on research & development ( GERD ) between India and other countries. While the GERD is a mere 0.64% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in India, business enterprises contribute over 50% to the GERD in most developed and emerging economies. In fact, the Eco Survey stated that this share exceeds 70% in countries like China, Japan, South Korea and the USA. What factors contribute to India's lag in R&D spending? Why is R&D central to boosting MSME performance? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Rohinton Sidhwa, Partner, Deloitte India, said that R&D boosts innovation and has a remarkable effect on the competitive advantage of its small business ecosystem. 'MSMEs depend on inputs that help serve their market with an element of stability. One of these inputs is innovation and technology, and since they are dependent on this input coming and being paid for from overseas, it significantly strains their overall business models. The last few years have seen a huge increase in currency-related costs and fractured trade relations. Locally sourced R&D can give MSMEs and startups a huge advantage,' he says. The Economic Survey also pointed out that the industrial R&D in India is not only low but also concentrated within specific sectors. Drugs and pharmaceuticals are leading the way, followed by information technology, transportation, defence, and biotechnology. Live Events The Survey also noted that historically, India's R&D focus has been on basic research rather than applied research. 'This often lacks the practical applications needed to attract private investment. This gap needs to be bridged to streamline and drive innovations and investment across multiple sectors. To bridge this gap, we need to foster industry/academia collaboration, enhance private-sector participation, and prioritise applied research. And the private sector needs to respond to the R&D challenge wholeheartedly,' the Survey stated. MSMEs are of the view that investing more in R&D can enable the sector to do more than merely remain competitive, as it makes them drivers of innovation. Drawing a parallel with developed economies, they say that small companies flourish here within established innovation ecosystems. 'Take Germany, for instance, where many mid-sized appliance makers work closely with research institutions to embed IoT and automation into conventional home appliances. India needs a similar ecosystem, especially for MSMEs. Home-grown innovations, like voltage-stabilised electronics or water-efficient washing systems, have the potential to create significant local impact when backed by the right R&D support,' says Abhishek Gupta, Director of Finance and Operations at Summercool Home Appliances. Previously, the firm had allocated Rs 2 crore annually toward research and process upgrades. This year, they have ramped it up to nearly Rs 3 crore in light of a broader product portfolio. 'This increased focus is facilitating us to develop more advanced, user-centric appliances, improve energy efficiency, and stay ahead of new directions in technology. Our efforts are on delivering smarter air coolers, energy-saving washing machines, and technology-fused televisions aligned with Indian consumers' evolving needs,' he adds. Echoing similar sentiments, Devesh K Singhal, Director and CEO (Technical) of paper manufacturing company Chandpur Paper, says that enabling MSMEs in this journey is important to India's overall innovation and sustainability strategy as an emerging economy. 'Targeted R&D allows us to investigate options such as alternative sources of fibre, lower consumption of water and energy, and better product quality. Paper per capita consumption in India is far less than global standards, indicating vast untapped potential,' he states. The firm commits 2-3% of their yearly operational expenses to research and innovation. 'Our recent efforts have included enhancing the surface finish and printability of our MG Poster and Chromo (C1S) papers, in addition to adopting water-saving practices and energy-saving technologies,' he adds. Rooting for a more robust policy environment in favour of MSME-driven R&D, Singhal states that this can translate to effective changes on the ground. 'An increased focus on industry-oriented educational curriculum and training and availability of small target-oriented training modules by academic institutions will help the sector be at the forefront of India's manufacturing future,' he emphasises. On the occasion of World MSME Day on June 27, 2025, ET Digital will also open registrations for its sixth edition of the ET MSME Awards 2025 . The coveted award programme celebrates India's top MSMEs for their achievements and contribution to the nation's economic development.


The Hindu
12 hours ago
- The Hindu
Steering the Indian economy amidst global troubles
The global economy is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by shifts in trade policies and continuing geopolitical tensions. We see a return of trade wars, the review of tariffs by countries as well as a surge in negotiations for bilateral trade agreements. These have led to heightened uncertainties, impacting not just trade but also financial markets and economic growth prospects. With global trade dynamics evolving rapidly, it could lead to a structural realignment of global trade with long-term implications for trade and investments. Businesses will have to weigh the short-term challenges as well as long-term opportunities. Industry has to re-strategise amid rising costs, disrupted supply networks, and asymmetric information. The United States is India's largest export destination accounting for nearly one-fifth of India's merchandise exports. Therefore, uncertainties in the tariff regime in this market severely impact the business of Indian exporters. For certain sectors such as marine, apparel, carpets, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals, auto components, and electronics, India's dependence on the U.S. market is very high. Additional tariffs would erode margins of these exporters, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)s and make their exports unviable. Possible issues However, the imposition of the U.S.'s reciprocal tariffs itself remains uncertain given the possibility of interim deals and trade agreements that the U.S. is negotiating with many countries (including India) and also the recent order of the U.S. Court of International Trade challenging the imposition of reciprocal tariffs. Under such uncertain scenarios, one cannot even accurately assess whether Indian exporters will get any relative tariff advantage vis-à-vis competing countries such as China, Bangladesh or Vietnam that was considered a high probability in the initial assessment when reciprocal tariffs were announced. Experts and economists have highlighted that the direct impact of these tariffs (if implemented) on the Indian economy is expected to be limited due to India's resilient external economy, particularly rising contribution of services exports, high remittances, adequate forex reserves and low current account deficit. However, the uncertainties surrounding the tariffs are detrimental for exporters planning new orders and also their impact on decision making. In addition, there is a risk of increased threat of dumping into India by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations looking to redirect their surplus production. Medium- to long-term opportunity Despite the global headwinds, India stands to benefit with the right strategy. The global restructuring of trade offers India an opportunity to become an integral part of the renewed global supply chains. India needs a three-pronged strategy — to manage external shocks; to ensure domestic economic resilience and to leverage a window of opportunity to enhance its global exports. These key policy actions can be considered. First, India has taken a proactive approach by engaging early in Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations with the U.S. Being the first to conclude such an agreement could give India a first-mover advantage. The BTA must be crafted to ensure zero tariffs on sectors critical to India's interests, while cautiously opening up areas without compromising national priorities. India's service exports to the U.S. remain robust and it must be ensured that these are not impacted. Liberalisation of tariffs with the U.S. should be approached on a strictly bilateral basis. Addressing non-tariff barriers (NTBs) will be critical. Possibilities of mutual recognition agreements must be explored. A swift yet balanced trade deal will be key. Second, the conclusion of an FTA with the U.K. is a huge positive. India must now pursue other key FTAs with equal vigour. The early conclusion of an FTA with the European Union, Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with Australia and other important partners will offer Indian exporters enhanced market access in alternative markets. Third, strengthening import monitoring mechanisms becomes important in wake of a greater risk of dumping into India. Trade remedial measures should be deployed swiftly to protect domestic industries from economic damage. Fourth, sustaining public capital expenditure is vital in maintaining growth momentum amid global headwinds. Continued public capex will ensure that the domestic economy remains resilient and also help to crowd-in private investments over the medium term. Fifth, monetary policy should continue to remain accommodative. With inflation currently under control and projected to be lower in coming quarters, further rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India will help propel growth. Sixth, anchor potential foreign investments across sectors looking to diversify their supply chains from China, Vietnam and other countries. A focused approach would be required to target global companies to set up shop in India. Expedite reforms Finally, work towards next generation reforms and regulatory reforms — as proposed in the last two Union Budgets — must be expedited. Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes must be expanded to include other potential sectors (e.g., hearables and wearables, IoT devices, battery raw materials). These will help scale up manufacturing, attract investment in critical sectors, and build self-reliance. While global uncertainties pose undeniable challenges, they also offer an opportunity for India to emerge as a global manufacturing hub and be an integral part of the global supply chains. Through strategic trade negotiations and structural reforms, India can weather the storm and emerge stronger. Industry needs to re-strategise amidst rising costs, disrupted supply networks and asymmetric information Harsha Vardhan Agarwal is President, The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)


Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
‘Punjab to lead India's industrial transformation'
1 2 3 Ludhiana: The Bharat Manufacturing and Export Summit 2025 concluded successfully Saturday, cementing the city's role as a cornerstone of India's industrial landscape. Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema was the chief guest of the event, organised by MSME Sampark. The summit called upon govt officials, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to drive discussions on enhancing India's manufacturing and export capabilities, with a focus on the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) ecosystem. Cheema underscored Punjab's commitment to fostering a robust industrial environment through initiatives like the fast-track single window system and the Invest Punjab Portal, designed to streamline processes and boost MSME growth. He emphasised the state's proactive measures to enhance ease of doing business, including financial incentives, infrastructure upgrades, and policies to support sustainable industrial practices. "Punjab is poised to lead India's industrial transformation by empowering MSMEs with innovative policies and seamless access to resources," Cheema said, reinforcing the state's dedication to economic progress. TNN