Archive: December 8, 2022

Leading cyber security companies focusing on emerging threats in 2023

A rise in cyberattacks is a result of the increased adoption of technology. It’s interesting to note that these new technologies are anticipated to lay the foundation for improved security. The next ten years could present new security difficulties due to advances in quantum computing, pervasive networking, artificial intelligence (AI), and next-generation security management techniques. The previous ten years have seen a consistent rise in phishing, insider threats, company email compromise, understaffing in the cybersecurity field, and incorrectly configured code. Over time, the enterprise ecosystem’s data protection procedures have improved thanks to past attacks. To counteract contemporary cyberattacks, the mitigation and reaction strategy will continue to reboot itself as needed. Although providers of cyber security services now have an advantage thanks to technological advancement, the urgent priority is to revamp the established techniques.

Here are the leading cyber security firms which are focusing on threats that will emerge in 2023

Arete

Arete is transforming the way businesses and governments manage cyber risk through proven incident response, tech-enabled managed services, and powerful data insights. Working on the front lines of thousands of ransomware attacks and some of the largest nation-state attacks, their team combines hundreds of investigative, technical, and cyber risk management practitioners with best-in-class data and software engineers. They bring a relentless passion for innovation and a commitment to stopping cybercrime bring that same passion to positively impact the collective defense of businesses, governments, and infrastructure from cyber criminals and give back to the communities they serve.

Quick Heal

Quick Heal Technologies Ltd. is a global cybersecurity solutions provider. Its products are designed to manage IT security better across a wide range of platforms and devices. Its solutions can be tailored to fit the needs of consumers, small companies, governmental organizations, and corporate houses. The brand has spent 27 years concentrating its R&D on a computer and network security solutions. Its current array of powerful machine learning-enabled solutions for cloud-based security thwarts threats, attacks, and malicious traffic before they happen.

Forescout

Forescout delivers automated cybersecurity across the digital terrain. It is the only platform that provides complete coverage of the digital terrain by discovering, assessing and governing compliance of every connected device. Aimed at empowering their customers to achieve continuous alignment of security frameworks with their digital realities, across all asset types – IT, IoT, OT and IoMT, the company is on a non-stop journey, managing cyber risk through automation and data-powered insights.

Barracuda

Barracuda has been working towards making the world a safer place by delivering access to cloud-first, enterprise-grade security solutions that are easy to buy, deploy, and use. It protects email, networks, data, and applications with innovative solutions that grow and adapt to our customer’s journey. More than 200,000 organizations worldwide trust Barracuda, the company claims.

Noventiq

Noventiq (the brand name of Cyprus-registered Softline Holding plc) is a global solutions and services provider in digital transformation and cybersecurity, which has been headquartered and listed in London. The company enables, facilitates and accelerates digital transformation for its customers’ businesses, connecting 75,000+ organizations from all sectors with hundreds of best-in-class IT vendors alongside its own services and solutions.

SCS Tech

SCS Tech specializes in creating and managing optimum security solutions that are in line with clients’ requirements. The organization strives to enhance network and system security through ongoing inspections, keeping in mind that cybersecurity is the cornerstone of any business. It believes that a company’s security posture must be considered from the outset and go beyond mere prevention. With this perspective, the company monitors detect and responds to security problems with 24/7 rapid response and remediation services.

Conclusion

The demands on an organization’s cybersecurity appear to increase yearly, whether it’s due to the never-ending list of compliance guidelines to follow or the growing volume of corporate data being produced. Keeping up with the most recent trends in cyberspace is the greatest method to ensure that the business’s defensive strategy is current. To reduce insider threats and zero-day attacks, businesses will also need to drastically boost the adoption of a cyber-security culture. Ultimately, 2023 will be confronted with a scalding brew of both old and new cyber threats emerging. The year ahead will present unique difficulties for everyone attempting to safeguard their data and maintain geopolitical stability.

Air India Commits over US$400m to Fully Refurbish Existing Widebody Aircraft Cabin Interiors

Bangalore, December 8, 2022: Air India, India’s leading airline and a Star Alliance member, has announced plans to refurbish its entire legacy wide body fleet, comprising 27 Boeing B787-8 and 13 B777 aircraft, committing over US$400m for the project.

This refurbishment will see a complete overhaul of existing cabin interiors, including the addition of latest generation seats and best in-class inflight entertainment across all classes. In addition, the refurbishment will see the introduction of a Premium Economy cabin on both fleets. The First Class cabin will also be retained on the 777s. Air India has engaged leading London-based product design companies, JPA Design and Trendworks, to assist with the cabin interior design elements of this refurbishment programme. The collaboration brings together two experts in the fields of aviation and interiors that have produced designs for major brands including Taj Hotels, The Orient Express and Herman Miller International.

With this significant investment, Air India is committed to providing its passengers with a comfortable, modern, and technologically advanced cabin to facilitate travel experience that is comparable with the best airlines in the world.

The complete interior refurbishment entails significant regulatory and engineering preparation, which commenced earlier this year. This lengthy but necessary process, and the time required to manufacture seats, is expected to lead to the first aircraft entering service in mid-2024.

Commenting on the widebody cabin refurbishment programme, Mr. Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO, Air India said, “Under our Vihaan.AI transformation program, Air India has committed to attain the highest standards of product and service befitting of a world class airline. We know that, at present, the cabin product on our 40 legacy widebody aircraft falls short of this standard. Although the project commenced some months ago, we are delighted to now publicly announce this significant investment on a complete interior refit, and we are confident that, when revealed, the new interiors will delight customers and show Air India in a new light. We are working closely with partners to accelerate the refit process as fast as possible and, in the meantime, leasing in at least 11 new widebody aircraft with brand new interiors to improve our offering at the earliest opportunity.”

Aparajitha is set for its acquisition journey of consolidating robust compliance platforms

Chennai, 8th December 2022: Aparajitha, India’s largest compliance service provider, is all set to expand its growth and business outlook with the newer acquisitions and consolidating future tech-enabled compliance platforms. The company has set expansion goals in the coming years, envisioning becoming the leading player in the compliance segment in India.

Focussing on the Labour, Employee, and Industrial (LEI) and Environment Health and Safety (EHS) related compliance services, Aparajitha presently has strong Pan India domain expertise in Central and State laws pertaining to employees, Labour, Industrial, and EHS regulations. Aparajitha has over 1,700 employees on its rolls and a presence in 25 Indian States, with over 1,750 clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to MSMEs.

Aparajitha has recently acquired a strategic 76% equity stake in Simpliance Technologies, a subsidiary of Quess Corp. With the acquisition, Aparajitha consolidates all their tech products under the brand name ‘Simpliance’, rebranding ‘Compfie’ to ‘Simpliance’. This enables combined operations, facilitating a more powerful and automated compliance knowledge platform for all the tech and services offered by Aparajitha across the country. This is the second acquisition by Aparajitha in four months, after the acquisition of the business / select assets of Comply India Tech Services Private Limited in June 2022.

Speaking on the company’s vision, growth, and expansion plans, Mr. Nagaraj Krishnan, Managing Director of Aparajitha said, “As Aparajitha consolidates with futuristic business and newer compliance platforms, we assure to create the country’s largest regulatory and efficient Compliance Solutions with quality and integrity. We are glad and excited to announce our recent acquisition with Simpliance, where we believe to bring the best of the services from both companies with world-class digital solutions to the clients combined with high-quality full assurance compliance services on the ground.”

“We are glad to be part of Aparajitha’s expansion and to associate with them in the rebranding of their promising product Compfie to Simpliance GRC. With the acquisition, we offer comprehensive technology and data-oriented compliance solution with digital tools. We believe that Aparajitha-Simpliance can emerge as an undisputed leader in the compliance segment with strong regulatory domain expertise in India and other regions,” commented Lt Cdr Anil Prem D’Souza, Chief Executive Officer of Simpliance Technologies Pvt Ltd.

Promoted by Dr. Bharath Krishna Shankar and Mr. Nagaraj Krishnan, Aparajitha is part of Xcelerate Pte Ltd, a Singapore-headquartered GRC / ESG operating and investment platform. Xcelerate has a clearly defined roll-up strategy to bring together world-class management teams, cutting-edge technologies, and domain experts to offer comprehensive solutions on a regional basis in the GRC / ESG segment.

How Blue Light Affects Your Eyes: What You Should Know

– Dr Mahipal S Sachdev, CMD, Centre for Sight group of Eye Hospitals

One of our fundamental requirements is to bask in the light. It is beneficial for regulating our circadian rhythm, or our natural cycle of awake and sleep, and can increase our energy and mood. However, excessive light at the wrong time might be dangerous. Darkness is specifically required for sleep. The ubiquitous blue light from computers and cell phones can disrupt our normal rhythms and contribute to midday weariness.

There is a growing fear that blue light may have long-term effects on human eye health , even though there isn’t conclusive scientific proof that blue light from digital devices harms your eyes.

What is blue light?

With a wavelength of 400 to 450 nanometers, blue light is a kind of visible light (nm). This form of light is viewed as having a blue color, as the name would imply. Even though the light is seen as white or another color, blue light can still exist. Because blue light has more energy per photon of light than other colors in the visible spectrum, such as green or red light, it is a worry. Because of this, blue light is more likely to harm numerous body cells when absorbed in high enough quantities.

Blue Light and Eye Health

High-energy light from the sun, such as UV and blue rays, can increase your risk of eye damage when exposed in big doses. This has sparked doubts regarding the safety of blue light from digital devices. According to experts, roughly 50% of computer users experience digital eye strain , often known as computer vision syndrome. Blurred vision, dryness, itchy eyes are common symptoms.

Does blue light cause headaches?

Long-term exposure to blue light can have adverse side effects, such as headaches, neck pain, and eye strain. Digital eye strain—a condition brought on by spending too much time in front of digital screens—is frequently linked to blue light headaches. Our eyes might work overtime when we stare at screens, stressing and straining our eyes.

This may result in vision problems that are not good for eye health, which may cause headaches, eye discomfort, and vision issues. When mainly referring to blue light problems caused by prolonged screen use, digital eye strain is sometimes referred to as computer vision syndrome.

Are there any glasses to protect your eyes from screens?

With so much time spent on digital devices, it’s easy to forget about your eye health. Long periods of screen starring can cause eye strain, redness, blurry vision, and other related issues. Therefore, taking precautions to safeguard your eyes is essential to lowering the likelihood of developing severe additional vision issues. The first step in preventing digital eye strain can be choosing the correct computer glasses. If you must spend much time staring at a computer screen or other screen, wear computer glasses to ignore strain in your eyes.

To safeguard your eyes while using a computer, tablet, or Smartphone, Eyezen lenses and Anti-reflective lenses are indeed computer glasses. You can see your screen more clearly with these computer-specific glasses.

Are blue light glasses good for you?

You’re not alone if you’ve ever experienced dryness and fatigue in your eyes after a long day of staring at a computer screen. It could sound like a smart idea to wear blue light glasses as a remedy. A type of vision eyewear called blue light blocking glasses is constructed with unique lenses that block blue light while allowing other types of light to pass through. By shielding your eyes from high-energy blue wavelengths, blue light glasses reduce the risk of eye injury from extended exposure. It is safe to wear blue light blocking glasses, which won’t harm your vision. Blue light blocking contacts for astigmatism is also beneficial for your eye health.

Blue light health effects

Most people, it may be said, spend a lot of time staring at screens. And that could be harmful to our eyes. Blue light from electronics has been related to issues such as cataracts, macular degeneration, dry eyes, eyestrain, blurred vision, and macular degeneration. Some individuals struggle with sleep. Here we discuss the blue light health effects-

Blue light’s effects on the cornea:

The first structure light encounters as it travels through the eye is the cornea, which is located at the front of the eyeball. According to certain studies, blue light increases the generation of reactive oxygen species in corneal epithelial cells, whereas Blu-ray irradiation decreases the survival rate of corneal epithelial cells.

Blue light affects sleep:

Poor sleep is associated with screen use, especially at night. Your circadian rhythm (the cycle during which you go to sleep) is disrupted by the blue light from technological devices. It causes your brain to wake up when it ought to be sleeping. In one study, exposure to blue light at night for as little as two hours reduced or prevented the release of the hormone melatonin, which regulates sleep. Turning off your electronic gadgets at least three hours before night can be beneficial.

Digital eye strain:

Digital eye strain can result from the blue light from computer screens and other digital gadgets that reduce contrast. Eyestrain can be brought on by drowsiness, dry eyes poor lighting, or the way you sit in front of the computer. Eyes that are painful or itchy and difficulty focusing are signs of eyestrain. The eye’s retina can be harmed by the blue light that LED lights emit.

Is Gold out of the Woods

Mr. Ketan Kothari, Director of Augmont Gold For All.

Out of the Woods means Out of difficulty or danger. Gold prices had been trading in a down-trend channel line since March 2022, with prices creating lower highs and lower low patterns. But November has been a turning point for Gold. A turning point is a point at which the price of an asset reverses direction. Turning points tend to occur at a fixed rhythm in time. COMEX Gold SPOT prices have turned up and have gained $170 from a low of $1620 to $1790. In fact, gold prices have given a breakout after breaking the important channel resistance of $1670 and sustaining above it.

Triple Bottom pattern

Moreover, prices have formed a ‘Triple Bottom Pattern’ around $1618 on daily charts. The triple bottom price pattern is defined by three failed attempts to drive the price through a level of support. The triple bottom is a bullish reversal pattern that appears at the bottom of a downtrend. After the sellers failed to break the support in three consecutive attempts, this candlestick pattern indicates an impending change in trend direction.

Fundamental Reasons for reversal

● US Inflation peaking out

Yellow metal got this positive momentum from US CPI data which showed that inflation has been cooling for the last four months after topping at 9.1% in July 2022. The October CPI report for the US came in at 7.7 percent higher YOY, below estimates for a 7.9 percent increase, and contrasts with the 8.2 percent increase observed in the September report. US CPI is a very important indicator for FED in deciding the monetary policy for the US. The inflation rate is projected to fall as money supply growth slows, possibly falling below pre-pandemic levels. And because monetary policy has a significant lag, the consequences of the FED’s aggressive moves have yet to be fully realized by the economy.

● Expectation of change in Monetary policy stance

The softer-than-expected CPI figure strengthens the case for a slower pace of hikes at the December FED meeting. So far, the FED has maintained a hard, hawkish face, but as the economic situation deteriorates, their monetary stance will change. This has led to a return of the dollar’s downward trend, opening the door for gold to launch a big recovery. Market participants now expect the FED to raise interest rates by 50bps at its December meeting, rather than 75 bps expected earlier.

● Possibility of Stagflation rising

The FED’s monetary policy remains too easy, rather than too restrictive. This is a setup for stagflation, not successful deflation. Actually, stagflation is a genuine possibility, as the next recession will be accompanied by more inflation than the previous ones. This is because stagflation causes both economic standstill and high inflation. Most assets become weak when assaulted by two attackers at the same moment, and gold tends to outperform them.

This is not surprising given that during stagflation, there is a great deal of economic uncertainty, trust in the central bank is low, and real interest rates are falling, with some plunging into negative territory. In other words, stagflation boosts gold’s underlying fundamentals.

Way Forward

As discussed above, the fundamentals and techniques for the gold market have changed in the last month and it seems, gold is out of the woods or bearish phase. Moreover, strong marriage season demand from India and strong Investment demand from central banks will
keep supported. World Gold ETF investors, who have been on side-lines or sellers are likely to jump into this market to realize the price rally.
As the rally in gold prices has been too fast, we can see some retracement in prices, but that would be an ideal opportunity to buy gold on dips around $1700 (Rs 51000/ 10 gm) for the next upleg rally up to $1900 (Rs 55000/ 10 gm) in next few months.

Best way to stay invested in Gold

The best way to stay invested and take advantage of this gold rally is to buy Digi Gold from Augmont Gold for all. It is suitable for consumers who desire the benefits of both investing in gold and the ability to easily accept physical delivery. Indians are the world’s second-largest buyers of actual gold. Apart from jewellery, we utilize it as a present and as part of every household’s possession. For individuals looking to collect gold with the eventual option of delivery, digital gold is a safe, convenient, and hassle-free choice. The convenience and speed of the internet are combined with the safety and security of traditional gold purchases in digital gold. Digital gold is seen as a more secure and cost-effective investment alternative, which can be bought 24*7 for as low as Re1.

IndiaMART Shines Bright with Gold at the Global platform of LACP 2022

New Delhi, 8th December 2022. IndiaMART, India’s largest online B2B marketplace has been awarded Gold recognition at the global platform LACP 2022 Spotlight Awards for its Annual Integrated Report. The 2022 Spotlight Awards Annual Report Competition is organized by the League of American Communications Professionals LLC (LACP), USA to facilitate discussion on the best communication practices and to recognize those who demonstrate exemplary work. This Indian online marketplace received the gold award with Annual Report as its main category and Integrated Report as a sub-category with 98 points out of 100.

This year IndiaMART has bagged the spotlight by attaining the 35th rank worldwide and 5th rank in India. The Company’s Annual Integrated Report achieved a 100 percent score in 4 out of the total 6 parameters, which included First Impression, Overall Narrative, Overall Visual Design and Perceived Relevance.

The competition receives applications from more than 500 global companies spread across 4 continents. Moreover, the participants include 9 out of the top 10 Fortune 500 firms making it a huge success every year.

Speaking on the achievement, Dinesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, IndiaMART said, “It is an honor to be recognized by the global platform of LACP. We believe that unambiguous communication and disclosure with the stakeholders is the key to delivering value and gaining business growth. We focused on delivering a prudent report that explains everything from our robust business model, our approach to financial management, the macro and micro factors affecting the business growth to the good governance being followed at the organization. The award is a testament to the clear thought and effort that we have put behind this report. It is an occasion for all of us to be in a revelry mood.”

Rejove to exhibit the future of dentistry at Expodent International India in 2022

Showcase possible applications of new age technologies that could be leveraged within the orthodontic industry

New Delhi, 8th December 2022: Rejove, one of India’s fastest growing names across the healthcare sector today announced that it will be demonstrating a wide array of new age technology-based applications at India’s largest Dental Summit, Expodent International India, 2022 scheduled for 16th-18th Dec at Pragati Maidan at Hall number 3, Stall T1and T2.

Rejove will be demonstrating the possible applications of new age technologies such as AI, ML, 3D printing etc during this annual industry event. One of the key products that Rejove will be exhibiting during this annual industry event will be their flagship range of clear aligners which is a more cost effective, less strenuous and a clearer alternative for braces. As compared to the traditional braces, these clear aligners provide a wide array of applications be it correcting crowding of teeth, spacing, bite issues etc.

About Rejové:

Rejové is a renowned dental & skincare clinic in Delhi NCR. Known for its relentless pursuit of excellence, Rejové has made quite a name for itself within the healthcare sector. The services that they provide are customized as per the individual requirements of people and patients alike clients. They also ensure that these are provided in a professional and transparent manner and adhere to the highest quality standards whilst being cost-effective. They have gained significant prominence within the Healthcare sector because of their deep understanding of the various services that they offer. They have an in-house team of highly skilled professionals supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Leading Kids wear Brand Miniklub opens a new store in Raipur

Miniklub – India’s leading babywear brand that offers a thoughtfully crafted range of apparel & baby care products, open a new store in Raipur. Located in Labhandi, Raipur, the newly launched stores offer a wide range of safe and comfy apparel and non-apparel range for newborns to 8-year-olds.

MiniKlub’s offerings include New Born essentials, baby wear, kids’ fashion, footwear, toys, travel, baby care, and much more all under one roof, making it an ideal choice for parents in the city.

Incepted in 2013, MiniKlub, from the house of First Steps Babywear, has emerged as a fast-growing omnichannel brand with a presence in over 450 plus multi-brand outlets, leading e-retailers, and exclusive brand stores – both physical and online. Having successfully marked its presence in 26 cities with 45 exclusive brand stores. Inspired by the childhood spirit, Miniklub takes utmost care while designing the products for the comfort and safety of the babies. Miniklub also takes pride in following sustainable manufacturing processes while bringing the best quality products to the market. The retailer today operates 450+ multi-brand outlets with a solid presence on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart and Ajio.

Miniklub also delivers across India through their own e-commerce platform www.miniklub.in

Store Address: 2nd Flr, SF17, Magneto Mall, Labhandi, Raipur-492001

HGS Continues to Expand Its Digital Focus, Announces Acquisition

New Delhi, India, December 8, 2022: In line with its ongoing evolution into a digital-led, people-driven customer experience (CX) services provider, Hinduja Global Solutions Limited (HGS) (Listed on NSE & BSE, India), continues to make significant investments to expand its digital capabilities.

The company today announced two M&A developments to support its transformation journey as HGS 2.0.

1. HGS has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 100% stake in TekLink International, Inc., for a consideration of US$ 58.8 million, subject to earnouts and other customary and agreed adjustments. The transaction with the analytics service provider is expected to close in the next two months.
2.  HGS has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LoI) to acquire uKnowva, a digital Human Resources Management System (HRMS) product business, from Convergence IT Services Ltd, subject to necessary diligence and approvals. uKnowva is a Cloud-based SaaS platform that is easy to use, cost effective and leverages intelligent software to deliver human capital management, automation, and collaboration for midsize and growing companies.

“HGS has been investing significantly in developing technology-led capabilities to reimagine the CX journey for our clients in an increasingly digital-first world. TekLink and uKnowva with their transformative solutions in the analytics & financial planning and HR technology segments, respectively, are a good strategic fit for us. The synergies will help us strengthen our existing digital portfolio substantially, expand in new rapidly growing segments, co-create solutions, and cross-sell to clients,” said Partha DeSarkar, Group CEO, HGS. “We continue to build an end-to-end ecosystem of innovative solutions that support every touchpoint in the consumer journey.”

TekLink International Inc., is a full-service financial planning and analytics service provider, including design, implementation, and application management services. TekLink has built technical and functional expertise across multiple industries, including consumer products, retail, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing & distribution, utilities, and high-tech. The company supports over 60 clients, including one of the world’s leading food manufacturers, an American multinational confectionery, a global beverages giant, etc. TekLink is headquartered in Warrenville, IL, US, with a presence in Europe and delivery centers in Hyderabad and Indore in India. The company has strong credentials in the industry, with established partnerships with Microsoft, SAP, Anaplan, etc. TekLink has recently been named a 2022 Gartner® Peer Insights™ Customers’ Choice for Data & Analytics Service Providers.

The acquisition will strengthen HGS’ digital solutions business by adding enhanced expertise in building data platforms, analytics, and financial planning. It will also add complementary digital workforce bench strength, with 275 seasoned technology and implementation professionals joining HGS as part of the transaction. HGS’ digital business currently employs over 750 core technology and digital marketing experts, primarily across the US and India, who are transforming customer experiences (CX) for leading brands.

“We are excited to become part of the HGS family to complement their already established digital customer engagement, digital experience, intelligent automation, and cloud & security portfolio with our world-class data platform and analytics solutions and services,” said Pankaj Gupta, Founder, and CEO, TekLink. “Together, our mutual clients will benefit from best-in-class, end-to-end digital transformation.”

uKnowva business has 75+ employees in India supporting over 300,000 users across 80+ clients. The acquisition of uKnowva, when approved and completed, will create technology synergies with HGS’ existing HRO/ Payroll and F&A business, which supports several hundred clients with mainly HR operations-related activities in India and the Middle East today. uKnowva was recently recognized as the ‘Entrepreneurial Company of the Year in AI for HR Tech’ by Frost and Sullivan.

Buyback Update: HGS’ audited financial statements for the six-month period that ended September 30, 2022, are under preparation currently. Subject to the completion of the audit, the Board is expected to meet in the week of December 19, 2022 to finalize the terms of the proposed Buyback.

Rushil Plants 120 Million Agroforestry Trees, Creates Thousands of Jobs and Rural Uplift, to Shape a Greener India

Bengaluru 8th December 2022: Rushil Decor (BSE: 533470, NSE: RUSHIL), a global leader in smarter living solutions, transforming contemporary residential and commercial spaces, today announced that it has planted over 120 million agroforestry trees in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, since last four years and pledging to further strengthen its agroforestry capacity initiatives in an integrated manner with crops and livestock to improve productivity, employment, income and livelihoods of rural households, impacting smallholder farmers and offering 20,000 skilled and unskilled employment (farmers, agriculture labor and cutting labors).

This includes planting over 50 million trees in the Chikmagalur, Hassan, and Shimoga districts of Karnataka and 70 million trees in the Visakhapatnam, East Godawari, and Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh. The fast-growing, short rotational crops: Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Silver Oak & Acacia used as raw materials in the industry, offer direct income to farmers, agriculture labor, and women labor, around the plantation. Rushil’s modern, future boards (MDF) plants in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh procures agroforestry wood affecting the livelihood of millions of man-days annually and three rotation cycle in ten years of renewable resources to keep rolling the rural economy.

Assuring a consistent supply of raw material, Rushil Decor’s team regularly engages with the rural farmers to extend advanced technical support for agroforestry, offering seeds and seedlings of different agroforestry species through nurseries, necessary subsidies and transportation support, training and guidance at factory and district centre, distribution of materials, price updates for harvesting along with market support.

Rushil Decor’s modern facilities also help nurture local ancillary industries like furniture, panel, transport, and local artisans leading to significant employment opportunities. The plants are strategically located close to raw material sourcing agroforestry-plantations and hence, create sustainable livelihood, reduce transportation impact, and lower emissions, driven by smart manufacturing and automated robotic production. Rushil Decor is partners with the Indian Plywood Industries Research & Training Institute (IPIRTI), Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST) & Association of Indian Panelboard Manufacturers (AIPM) to enhance its capabilities in agroforestry & strategic sourcing of raw materials from farmers, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.

Agroforestry is defined as a land use system that integrates trees and shrubs on farmlands and rural landscapes to enhance productivity, profitability, diversity and ecosystem sustainability. It is a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resource management system that, through integration of woody perennials on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production and builds social institutions.

Rushil K Thakkar, Director, Rushil Decor Ltd., India, says “Trees are one of our best investments against the climate crisis. As a responsible organization, we at Rushil Decor are committed to promoting agroforestry to sequester carbon and broaden the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of rural development. The smart use of trees in agricultural land systems can also make substantial contributions to the conservation of biodiversity. Agroforestry can also help diversify and sustain (food) production and provide vital social, economic, and environmental benefits for land use at scale–shaping a greener planet and better future for all.”

Rushil’s agroforestry-based plants enhance marginal and small farmers with minimal land holding capacity of less than five acres. This initiative has been directed to generate economic momentum, sustainable livelihood and job opportunities for thousands of skilled and unskilled people in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. What strengthens this is Rushil’s association with local bodies like Agriculture Market Committee and Karnataka Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) by procuring locally grown agroforestry wood by farmers.

With the rise in living standards, the need for wood is encouraging agro farming which results “farm to furniture” vision of a successful layout for the industry. Trees provide a way forward for sustainable farming and the world must embrace innovative options to maximize agroforestry productivity for mitigating climate change leading to a sustainable ecosystem.

According to industry insights, empowering agroforestry at a national level can offer significant benefits to the economy, and composite panel industries can create employment opportunities for 2 to 2.5 million people approximately. The full value chain from 110 – 115 million CBM timber (timber to furniture) can create value-added produce of $150 billion. An important benefit is of carbon sequestration: the increase in forest cover and that too of younger trees will have a 2 billion metric ton carbon sequestration potential by 2050.

A growing consumer awareness and a range of application is driving increased consumption of MDF in India, as the industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% – 20% from an estimated Rs. 3,000 crores in 2021 to Rs. 6,000 crores by 2026. India is a significant player in MDF, being used as a leading interior infrastructure material. Discerning consumers and modern offices who look for responsible products that reduce carbon footprint, rapid urbanization, rebound in realty, and rising nuclear families will boost MDF growth. Unlike a 70 % market share in the developed nations, MDF has just 30% market share in India reflecting the high potential for MDF.

MDF is an engineered product made of wood fibers bonded under high pressure using thermosetting resins and wax, forming beautiful panels by applying high temperature and pressure, for strength. Many MDF qualities make it an ideal replacement for wood, plywood, and particle boards.