Latest news with #AKSood
New Indian Express
12-08-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Nabard, APGB sign MoU with Aqua Exchange
VIJAYAWADA: In a significant step towards revolutionising aquaculture financing, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Andhra Pradesh Grameen Bank (APGB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aqua Exchange Agritech Private Limited. The agreement signed in Vijayawada on Monday, introduces a pioneering loan model for shrimp farmers, integrating Internet of Things (IoT) as part of a pilot project. The event was attended by NABARD Deputy Managing Director AK Sood, NABARD Andhra Pradesh Regional Office Chief General Manager MR Gopal, NABARD Head Office CGMs Manikumar and AV Bhavani Shankar, APGB Chairman Pramod Kumar Reddy, Union Bank of India General Manager Renu Nair, and Aqua Exchange CEO Pawan Krishna Kosaraju. This partnership aims to bring shrimp farmers into the formal credit system by offering low-interest loans, reducing reliance on informal lending. By leveraging IoT devices, the initiative enables real-time monitoring of water quality, feed usage, and disease control, enhancing productivity, minimising risks, and promoting sustainable aquaculture practices.
Hans India
12-08-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Nabard, APGB sign pact with Aqua Exchange to finance shrimp farmers
Vijayawada: Nabard and APGB on Monday signed an agreement with Aqua Exchange Agri Tech Private Limited to provide financial support to shrimp farmers in the state. The initiative will pilot a value chain financing model using Internet of Things (IoT) devices on shrimp farms to improve water quality, feed management, and disease control. 'National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and Andhra Pradesh Grameen Bank have partnered with Aqua Exchange Agri Tech Private Limited to promote an aquaculture value chain financing model,' said Nabard deputy managing director A K Sood. He added that this strategic partnership will pilot a financing model specifically for shrimp farmers in Andhra Pradesh. The collaboration aims to integrate shrimp farmers into the formal credit system, offer loans at reasonable interest rates, and reduce their dependence on informal lenders, according to the press release. During the event, loan sanction letters worth over Rs 1 crore were handed over to five shrimp farmers, and IoT devices were distributed to enable real-time farm monitoring and data-driven management. In a related development, Nabard sanctioned over Rs 3 crore for a tribal development project in Buttayagudem and Polavaram mandals of Eluru district, benefiting 500 families from the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). The six-year PVTG project will also focus on developing mango and cashew orchards with border crops, expected to yield Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.2 lakh annually per family upon maturity. The loan sanction letter was handed over to the Project Facilitating Agency, ACTION (Association for Rural and Tribal Development), underscoring NABARD's commitment to inclusive rural growth.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Call to make cell & gene therapies affordable
Bengaluru: "Innovations in cell and gene therapies are good, but work towards making them affordable," Prof AK Sood, principal scientific advisor (PSA) to the Union govt told researchers Thursday. But what are these therapies that Sood spoke about? They are cutting-edge medical treatments that aim to cure diseases at the source rather than just manage symptoms. Gene therapy fixes faulty genes. And cell therapy uses specially prepared cells - often taken from the patient or a donor - to help the body heal, or fight disease. These are already being used to treat serious conditions like blood cancers and rare genetic diseases. But each treatment can cost lakhs or even crores, making them out of reach for most people. "If we want to make them widely accessible in India, we need a much larger and coordinated effort," Sood told researchers and innovators at India AMR Innovation Workshop held at C-CAMP here. He said the Centre is working on a "Cell and Gene Therapy Mission" that will bring together several ministries and departments. Citing ImmunoACT - a CAR-T cell therapy for cancer treatment that uses the patient's own immune cells to fight the disease - developed with govt support as a good example, he said private companies are now stepping in to take it forward. Pointing out that India lacks strong laws to stop over-the-counter sale of antibiotics, which is a major cause of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) , Sood blamed fake doctors, easy access to antibiotics, and high consultation fees for irresponsible usage. Karnataka IT-BT secretary Ekroop Caur spoke about the rising danger of AMR, saying even people who don't misuse antibiotics can be affected because of what's happening in animals and plants. "That's why Karnataka launched a new AMR action plan this year." C-CAMP CEO and director Taslimarif Saiyed warned AMR could lead to 10 million deaths a year if urgent action isn't taken.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Make cell & gene therapies affordable, Prof AK Sood, principal scientific advisor (PSA) to Union government told researchers in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: "Innovations in cell and gene therapies are good, but work towards making them affordable," Prof AK Sood, principal scientific advisor (PSA) to the Union govt told researchers Thursday. But what are these therapies that Sood spoke about? They are cutting-edge medical treatments that aim to cure diseases at the source rather than just manage symptoms. Gene therapy fixes faulty genes. It's like correcting the instruction manual in our cells. And cell therapy uses specially prepared cells — often taken from the patient or a donor — to help the body heal, fight disease, or replace damaged cells. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru These therapies are already being used to treat serious conditions like blood cancers and rare genetic diseases. But each treatment can cost lakhs or even crores of rupees, making them out of reach for most people. "Today, these therapies are extremely expensive — even in developed countries. If we want to make them widely accessible in India, we need a much larger and coordinated effort," Sood told the researchers and innovators at the India AMR Innovation Workshop held at C-CAMP here. He said the Centre is working on a dedicated "Cell and Gene Therapy Mission" that will bring together several ministries and departments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo "Science and technology is one part. The real challenge is scaling up to reduce costs. We must also develop key chemicals ourselves to cut down on imports," he said, noting that IIT Bombay is already working on this. Citing ImmunoACT — a CAR-T cell therapy for cancer treatment that uses the patient's own immune cells to fight the disease — developed with govt support as a good example, he said private companies are now stepping in to take it forward and reduce costs further. Sood also said quantum computing could speed up the discovery of new drugs by quickly solving complex problems, helping scientists find medicines faster. "This could change the future of healthcare," he said. Pointing out that India lacks strong laws to stop over-the-counter sale of antibiotics, which is a major cause of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Sood blamed fake doctors, easy access to antibiotics, and high consultation fees for irresponsible usage. Karnataka IT-BT secretary Ekroop Caur spoke about the rising danger of AMR, saying even people who don't misuse antibiotics can be affected because of what's happening in animals and plants. "That's why Karnataka launched a new AMR action plan this year." C-CAMP CEO and director Taslimarif Saiyed warned that AMR could lead to 10 million deaths a year if urgent action isn't taken.
