Stevia Crop Cultivation Consultancy in India

 Stevia Crop Cultivation Consultancy in India

Stevia is a natural sweetener, sourced from the leaves of the Stevia plant, known as Rebaudioside. It is an excellent alternative to sugar, being 50-200 times sweeter, making it ideal for those seeking a calorie-free sweetener. Given the rising incidence of diabetes, there's a global shift towards natural sugar alternatives, with Stevia emerging as a safe and popular choice. Its unique property of calorie-free sweetness is driving increasing demand, particularly in India, where health consciousness is on the rise. Overconsumption of calories is linked to diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and depression, making Stevia a valuable solution.

Stevia cultivation is well-suited to various climates worldwide, including many Indian states such as Jammu & Kashmir (Jammu region), Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Northeastern states, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. As the leading consultancy provider for Stevia crop cultivation in India, we offer comprehensive support for plant selection, farm preparation, irrigation, fertilizer management, harvesting, post-harvest management, and market linkages. Stevia is a perennial crop, typically planted for 4-5 years.

Our Services

• We offer extensive consultancy services across various agricultural domains:
• Stevia Crop Cultivation: Comprehensive support for Stevia farming, from planting to market linkages.
• Agriculture Production: Backward and forward market linkages consultancy.
• Crop Cultivation: Including medicinal, aromatic, and exotic vegetables.
• Tree Plantations and Farm Development: Sustainable practices for diverse crop needs.
• Farm Mechanization: Advanced techniques for increased efficiency.
• Animal Husbandry and Dairy: Expertise in livestock management.
• Protected and Controlled Climate Cultivation: Including greenhouse farming.
• Organic Farming: Certification and sustainable agriculture practices.
• Biofuel Crops: Jatropha, Stevia, and Aloe Vera farming.
• Poultry, Goat, Sheep, and Camel Rearing: Comprehensive livestock consultancy.
• Apiculture and Fisheries: Specialized support for bee farming and aquaculture.
• Agro Processing Projects: End-to-end consultancy for new agro-industries.
• Commodity Procurement Planning: Strategic planning for agriculture value chain development.
• International Trade and Market Development: Support for export-import activities.

About Us

We are Agrotech Agribusiness Consultancy, a leader in agriculture, agribusiness, and agro technology consultancy and extension services. Upholding ethical business practices, our team of highly experienced professionals specializes in various agricultural disciplines. We deliver customized, technically and economically viable solutions tailored to your needs. We believe agriculture is the backbone of the economy and development, advocating for sustainable practices that conserve natural resources and ensure inclusivity for all.

Our Philosophy

Agriculture is vital for economic stability and growth. We emphasize sustainable practices that do not exploit natural resources and promote inclusivity across society. Our goal is to provide innovative, profitable, and cost-effective agribusiness solutions, ensuring complete satisfaction.

Trust Agrotech Agribusiness Consultancy for your agricultural project needs, from feasibility studies and project planning to resource collection and finance arrangement. We support sustainable farming initiatives and provide the latest agricultural technology to help you succeed.

7Up becomes first fizzy drink in India to use the stevia sweetener

 NEW DELHI: PepsiCo's stevia revolution will start with 7Up in India. If it works, the plant based sweetener could be used in the company's products across the range.

Following the government's suggestion that it reduce sugar in beverages, PepsiCo's 7Up has become the first fizzy drink in the country to do that by adding stevia, said to be the world's most sought-after natural sweetener. The new product, which is being tested in Gujarat, will contain 30% less sugar.

This will also be the first use of stevia to sweeten 7Up anywhere, said Vipul Prakash, PepsiCo's vice-president for beverages. "If we want to make a meaningful change to our portfolio, we will have to do it two-fold — one is to introduce new choices, and second make the existing portfolio healthier," Prakash told ET. "This is our first and very important move forward in making our existing core range healthier." Globally, sugar has become the target of campaigners who say it's among the additives used by the food industry most responsible for increasing levels of obesity in children and adults.

In countries like India, where levels of diabetes are on the rise, the use of sugar is being singled out as a factor that can cause the disease besides making it worse. The use of stevia in fizzy drinks is a first for India. Locally made diet sodas — all colas — use aspartame, a synthetic sweetener, which some activists look askance at. It's a tiny market though — the contribution of diet drinks, including Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi and Coke Zero to overall carbonates remains under 3% in India. Coca-Cola doesn't use stevia in any of its Indian products as of now. Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had suggested to Indra Nooyi that the company reduce sugar content in its soft drinks when they met during the PepsiCo CEO's visit to India in August 2014.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had cleared the use of stevia in carbonated drinks last November after a government-controlled scientific panel for food additives first recommended its use four years ago.

Amid growing public concern about sugar content in packaged beverages and foods, Nooyi had told investors in April that Pepsi-Co was "future-proofing its product portfolio, reshaping it to capitalise on consumers' increasing interest in health and wellness". Nooyi had said the company would reduce its reliance on colas through innovation across its beverage portfolio.

PORTFOLIO TRANSFORMATION

"Approval of stevia was a big enabler for us," Prakash said. "Portfolio transformation will be a multi-faceted journey. It could imply reducing sugar, adding juice to carbonates, or portion control. We are going big on transparency. If we need to go for portfolio transformation, it will have to be on core products as well." With sales of over Rs 1,000 crore, 7Up is among PepsiCo's fastest-growing brands. The lime-lemon segment has almost caught up with colas in terms of overall size as well, according to industry estimates. The company will roll out multimedia advertising for the new 7Up next week.

The move kicks off portfolio transformation in core products and PepsiCo said the objective would be to extend the changes across colas, flavours and juices over time.

"While consumers look for healthier alternatives, they don't want to compromise on taste," Prakash said. "Maintaining the taste, and in fact enhancing it, was critical and trade feedback has been very encouraging. This wasn't a hurried decision; we have taken our time. Replacing sugar is not easy."

The stevia-based drink will replace the existing 7Up formula after it's rolled out nationally. "We hope to take the learnings from the consumer and trade feedback and, over time, extend it to other parts of the country," Prakash said.

http://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/grocery/7up-becomes-first-fizzy-drink-in-india-to-use-the-stevia-sweetener/53853043