Ind As-41 Agriculture
Ind As-41 Agriculture
UNIT 1:
INDIAN ACCOUNTING STANDARD 41: AGRICULTURE
LEARNING OUTCOMES
UNIT OVERVIEW
Ind AS 41 : Agriculture
Additional
disclosures
Inability to measure
General fair value reliably
definitions
Government
grants
(b) At what value should a recognised biological asset or agricultural produce be measured?
(c) How should the differences in value of a recognised biological asset or agricultural produce
be accounted for between two different reporting dates?
1.2 SCOPE
1. This Standard shall be applied to account for the following when they relate to agricultural
activity:
(a) biological assets;
(b) agricultural produce at the point of harvest; and
(c) government grants
2. Ind AS 41 does not apply to:
(a) land related to agricultural activity : for example, the land on which the biological
assets grow, regenerate and/or degenerate (Ind AS 16 Property, Plant and
Equipment and Ind AS 40 Investment Property);
(b) bearer plants related to agricultural activity. Such bearer plants are covered within
the scope of Ind AS 16, Property, plant and Equipment and is accounted as per the
provisions of that standard. However, this Standard applies to the produce on those
bearer plants.
(c) government grants related to bearer plants (Ind AS 20 Accounting for Government
Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance).
(d) intangible assets associated with the agricultural activity, for example licenses and
rights are covered under Ind AS 38 Intangible Assets and provisions of this standard
will be applicable.
(e) right-of-use assets arising from a lease of land related to agricultural activity
(Ind AS 116, Leases).
This Standard is applied to agricultural produce, which is the harvested product of the entity’s
biological assets, only at the point of harvest. Thereafter, Ind AS 2 or another applicable
Standard is applied.
Examples 1 & 2
1. Processing of grapes into wine by a vintner who has grown the grapes. While such
processing may be a logical and natural extension of agricultural activity, and the events
taking place may bear some similarity to biological transformation, such processing is not
included within the definition of agricultural activity in this Standard.
2. Agriculture produces after the point of harvest, for example Wool, meat, fruit, rubber, logs
that are processed subsequently are not covered within purview of this standard and Ind
AS 2 Inventories shall apply.
The table below provides examples of biological assets, agricultural produce, and products that
are the result of processing after harvest:
Some plants, for example, tea bushes, grape vines, oil palms and rubber trees, usually meet the
definition of a bearer plant and are within the scope of Ind AS 16, Property, plant and Equipment.
However, the produce growing on bearer plants, for example, tea leaves, grapes, oil palm fruit
and latex, are within the scope of Ind AS 41.
progeny, weight, cubic metres, fibre length or diameter, and number of buds) brought
about by biological transformation or harvest is measured and monitored as a routine
management function.
Ind AS 41 does not deal with the processing of agricultural produce after harvest. The
standard makes it clear that, even if the processing is considered ‘a logical and natural
extension of agricultural activity, and the events taking place bear some similarity to
biological transformation, such processing is not included within the definition of agricultural
activity’. For example, the process of brewing beer – in which yeast (a fungus) converts
sugars into alcohol – would not meet the definition of agricultural activity in the standard.
Similarly, cheese production would fall outside the definition of agricultural activity.
produce grown on bearer plant.
(b) Biological Asset is defined as a living animal or plant.
(c) Biological transformation comprises the processes of growth, degeneration, production,
and procreation that cause qualitative or quantitative changes in biological asset.
Biological Transformation
Processes
(Casuing Qualitative or Quantitative changes in a Biological Asset)
(d) Agricultural produce is the harvested product of the entity’s biological assets.
Ind AS 41 only applies to agricultural produce (i.e. harvested produce) at the point of
harvest; not prior or subsequent to harvest. Under Ind AS 41, unharvested agricultural
produce is considered to be part of the biological asset from which it will be harvested.
Therefore, before harvest, agricultural produce should not be accounted for separately from
the biological asset from which it comes. For example, milk is accounted for as part of the
dairy cow right up to the moment at which the cow is milked.
Subsequent to harvest, agricultural produce is accounted for under Ind AS 2 or another
standard, if applicable. Under Ind AS 2, agricultural produce is initially recognised as
inventory at its fair value less costs to sell (measured in accordance with Ind AS 41), which
becomes its cost for Ind AS 2 purposes.
(e) Harvest is the detachment of produce from a biological asset or the cessation of a
biological asset’s life processes. there will be no further biological changess after
detachment.
(f) Fair Value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability
in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. (The
definition of Fair value is as given in Ind AS 113, Fair Value Measurement)
(g) Costs to sell are the incremental costs directly attributable to the disposal of an asset,
excluding finance costs and income taxes. Therefore, of all the costs that are necessary
for a sale to occur, costs to sell include those that would otherwise not arise. Examples of
costs to sell could include brokers’ and dealers’ commissions, levies by regulatory agencies
and commodity exchanges, transfer taxes and duties.
(h) Bearer plant may be defined as a living plant that:
i. is used in the production or supply of agricultural produce;
ii. is expected to bear produce for more than one period; and
iii. has a remote likelihood of being sold as agricultural produce, except for incidental
scrap sales.
All of the above criteria need to be met for a plant to be considered a bearer plant.
The definition captures plants that would intuitively be considered to be bearers, for instance,
grape vines. Some plants that may appear to be consumable, such as the root systems of
perennial plants (e.g. sugar cane, bamboo or asparagus), but due to the perennial nature of their
root systems, they are expected to meet the definition of a bearer plant. sadabahar
Annual crops and other plants that are held solely to be harvested as agricultural produce (e.g.
many traditional arable crops such as maize, wheat and soya, as well as trees grown for lumber),
are explicitly excluded from the definition of a bearer plant. In addition, plants that have a dual
use (i.e. plants cultivated to bear agricultural produce, but for which there is more than remote
likelihood that the plant itself will be harvested and sold as agricultural produce, beyond incidental
scrap sales) are not bearer plants. This may be the case when, for example, an entity holds rubber
trees to sell both the latex as agricultural produce and the trees as lumber.
For example, tea bushes, grape vines, oil palms and rubber trees, usually meet the definition of a
bearer plant and are outside the scope of Ind AS 41 and covered under Ind AS 16.
However, produce growing on bearer plant is a biological asset.
This is important to note here that animals are not covered in the definition of the bearer plants.
For example, Sheep, Cows etc are not bearer plants.
Illustration 1
ABC Ltd grows vines, harvests the grapes and produces wine. Which of these activities are in the
scope of Ind AS 41?
Solution
The grape vines are bearer plants that continually generate crops of grapes which are covered by
Ind AS 16, Property, Plant and Equipment.
When the entity harvests the grapes, their biological transformation ceases and they become
agricultural produce covered by Ind AS 41, Agriculture.
Wine involves a lengthy maturation period. This process is similar to the conversion of raw
materials to a finished product rather than biological transformation hence treated as inventory in
accordance with Ind AS 2, Inventories.
*****
b) it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the asset will flow to the entity;
and
Future economic benefits are expected to flow to the enterprise from its ownership or
control of the asset. The future benefits are normally assessed by measuring the significant
physical attributes. i.e life of living plant and
cattle etc.
c) the fair value or cost of the asset can be measured reliably.
1.5 MEASUREMENT
Biological Asset should be measured on initial recognition and at the end of each reporting period
at its fair value less costs to sell, except for the case where the fair value cannot be measured
reliably.
There is a presumption that fair value can be measured reliably for a biological asset. In the
following cases biological asset should be measured at its cost less any accumulated depreciation
and any accumulated impairment losses in accordance with Ind AS 2, Ind AS 16 and Ind AS 36:
• quoted market prices are not available for the biological assets and;
• alternative fair value measurements are determined to be clearly unreliable.
Once the fair value of such a biological asset becomes reliably measurable, an entity shall
measure it at its Fair value less costs to sell.
The presumption can be rebutted only on initial recognition. An entity that has previously
measured a biological asset at its fair value less costs to sell continues to measure the biological
asset at its fair value less costs to sell until disposal.
In all cases, an entity measures agricultural produce at the point of harvest at its fair value less
costs to sell. This Standard reflects the view that the fair value of agricultural produce at the point
of harvest can always be measured reliably.
Agricultural produce harvested from an entity’s biological assets should be measured at its fair
value less costs to sell at the point of harvest. Such measurement is the cost at that date when
applying Ind AS 2 or another applicable Standard.
The fair value measurement of a biological asset or agricultural produce may be facilitated by
grouping biological assets or agricultural produce according to significant attributes; for example,
by age or quality. An entity selects the attributes corresponding to the attributes used in the
market as a basis for pricing.
The fair value less cost to sell of a biological asset can change due to both physical changes and
price changes in the market.
Entities often enter into contracts to sell their biological assets or agricultural produce at a future
date. Contract prices are not necessarily relevant in measuring fair value, because fair value
reflects the current market conditions in which market participant buyers and sellers would enter
into a transaction. As a result, the fair value of a biological asset or agricultural produce is not
adjusted because of the existence of a contract.
Cost may sometimes approximate fair value, particularly when:
a) little biological transformation has taken place since initial cost incurrence (for example, for
fruit tree seedlings planted immediately prior to the end of a reporting period or newly
acquired livestock); or
b) the impact of the biological transformation on price is not expected to be material (for
example, for the initial growth in a 30-year pine plantation production cycle)
Biological assets are often physically attached to land (for example, trees in a plantation forest).
There may be no separate market for biological assets that are attached to the land but an active
market may exist for the combined assets, that is, the biological assets, raw land, and land
improvements, as a package. An entity may use information regarding the combined assets to
measure the fair value of the biological assets. For example, the fair value of raw land and land
improvements may be deducted from the fair value of the combined assets to arrive at the fair
value of biological assets.
Biological Assets
Recognition Measurement
the entity it is probable the fair value initial at the end of each
controls the that future or cost of the recognition reporting period
asset as a economic asset can be
result of past benefits measured
events associated reliably
with the asset
will flow to the at its fair value less costs to sell
entity
Exception
This presumption can be rebutted only on initial recognition for a biological asset when
a. quoted market prices are not available and
b. alternative fair value measurements determined are clearly unreliable.
In such a case, it shall be measured at its cost less any accumulated depreciation and any
accumulated impairment losses.
Note: Once the fair value of such a biological asset becomes reliably measurable, an entity shall
measure it at its fair value less costs to sell.
Note:
Once a non-current biological asset meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale (or is included
in a disposal group that is classified as held for sale) as per Ind AS 105, it is presumed that fair
value can be measured reliably.
Illustration 2
A farmer owned a dairy herd, of three years old cattle as at 1st April, 20X1 with a fair value of
` 13,750 and the number of cattle in the herd was 250.
The fair value of three-year cattle as at 31 st March, 20X2 was ` 60 per cattle. The fair value of
four-year cattle as at 31 st March, 20X2 is ` 75 per cattle.
Calculate the measurement of group of cattle as at 31st March, 20X2 stating price and physical
change separately.
Solution
On date of Purchase
Biological Asset Dr. 4,90,000
Loss on initial recognition Dr. 10,000
To Bank 5,00,000
(Being biological asset purchased)
On 31st March, 20X4 sheep would be measured at ` 5,88,000 as Biological Asset (6,00,000-
12,000) and gain of ` 98,000 (5,88,000 - 4,90,000) would be recognised in profit or loss.
At the end of reporting period
Biological Asset Dr. 98,000
To Gain – Change in fair value 98,000
Example 3
During the reporting period 20X1-20X2, an entity is having a cow which has given birth to
a calf. The fair value less estimated cost to sell for a calf is ` 5,000. The amount of
` 5,000 is, therefore, immediately recognised in the Statement of Profit and Loss.
2) Agriculture Produce:
A gain or loss arising on initial recognition of agricultural produce at fair value less costs to
sell shall be included in profit or loss for the period in which it arises.
Gain or Loss
Gain or loss on initial Change in fair value less costs Gain or loss on initial
recognition to sell on the reporting date recognition
Terms and conditions of government grants vary. For example, a grant may require
an entity to farm in a particular location for five years and require the entity to return
the entire grant if it farms for a period shorter than five years. In this case, the grant
is not recognised in profit or loss until the five years have passed. However, if the
terms of the grant allow part of it to be retained according to the time elapsed, the
entity recognises that part in profit or loss as time passes.
Example 4
Sun Ltd cultivated a huge plot of land. The government offers a grant of ` 10 crore under
the condition that the land is being cultivated for 5 years. If the land will be cultivated for a
shorter period, the entity is required to return the entire grant.
Therefore, the government grant will be recognised as income only after 5 years of
cultivation. The situation would be different if the returning obligation referred to the years
of not cultivating the land is with respect to retention of grant for the period till which the
entity has cultivated the land. In this case, the amount of ` 10 crore would be recognised
as income, proportionately with the time period, meaning ` 2 crore per annum.
Measured at Fair
Measured at Cost
value less cost to sell
Illustration 4
Agro Foods Ltd. runs a poultry farm business. It has received a government grant from the
government for setting up a new poultry unit in a backward area. Agro Foods Ltd used the amount
of government grants to buy the first batch of broiler birds, incubators etc. The broiler birds are
measured at fair value less costs to sell. However, the incubator machine is measured as per the
cost model in Ind AS 16.
As such there are no conditions attached to the release of the government grants pertaining to
purchase of poultry birds. However, as regards the investment in incubators and other related
plant and machinery items, the government grant contains a condition that the plant and machinery
item should be used for a minimum period of 3 years. The useful life of the incubator machine
has also been determined to be 3 years in accordance with the management estimate of the time
period over which the economic benefits embedded in the incubator machine shall be consumed.
Advise the accounting requirements prescribed in Ind AS 41 Agriculture and Ind AS 20 Accounting
for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance in respect of both the
government grants?
Solution
qualify as a biological asset as it is specifically covered by Ind AS 16 which states that plant and
machinery items used to develop or maintain biological assets is covered by Ind AS 16. Therefore,
the provisions relating to Government grants contained in Ind AS 41 will not apply to the incubator
machine. Therefore, we have to apply directly the provisions contained in IAS 20. Ind AS 20
contains two methods of presentation in financial statements of grants (or the appropriate portions
of grants) related to assets are regarded as acceptable alternatives:
• One method recognises the grant as deferred income that is recognized in profit or loss on a
systematic basis over the useful life of the asset.
• The other method deducts the grant in calculating the carrying amount of the asset. The
grant is recognized in profit or loss over the life of a depreciable asset as a reduced
depreciation expense.
Therefore, the grant relating to incubator machine will have to be accounted as a deferred income
that is recognized in Profit or loss on a systematic basis over a period of 3 years in line with the
condition attached to the grant. Alternatively, the grant may be deducted in determining the carrying
amount of the incubator. In such a case the grant is recognised in Profit or Loss over the 3-year
useful life of the depreciable incubator machine as a reduced depreciation expense.
1.8 DISCLOSURE
1) Description of biological assets and activities.
The entity is required to provide a description of each group of biological assets. This
disclosure may take the form of a narrative or quantified description. An entity is
encouraged to provide a quantified description of each group of biological assets,
distinguishing between consumable and bearer biological assets or between mature and
immature biological assets, as appropriate.
2) Gains and losses recognised during the period.
An entity shall disclose the aggregate gain or loss arising during the current period on initial
recognition of biological assets and agricultural produce and from the change in fair value
less costs to sell of biological assets.
c) decreases attributable to sales and biological assets classified as held for sale (or
included in a disposal group that is classified as held for sale) in accordance with
Ind AS 105;
The following disclosures are required for government grants relating to agricultural activity:
a) the nature and extent of government grants recognised;
b) unfulfilled conditions and other contingencies attaching to government grants; and
WN Amount
Income
Change in fair value of purchased dairy cow WN 2 1,00,000
Government Grant WN 3 10,00,000
Change in the fair value of newly born calves WN 4 1,30,000
Fair Value of Milk WN 5 72,000
Total Income 13,02,000
Expenses
Maintenance Costs WN 2 6,00,000
Breeding Fees WN 2 4,00,000
Total Expense (10,00,000)
Net Income 3,02,000
Inventory:
Milk WN 5 72,000
72,000
Working Notes:
1. Land: The purchase of the land is not covered by Ind AS 41. The relevant standard which
would apply to this transaction is Ind AS 16. Under this standard the land would initially be
recorded at cost and depreciated over its useful economic life. This would usually be
considered to be infinite in the case of land and so no depreciation would be appropriate.
Under Cost Model no recognition would be made for post-acquisition changes in the value
of land. The allowed alternative treatment under Revaluation Model would permit the land
to be revalued to market value with the revaluation surplus taken to the other
comprehensive income. We have followed the Cost Model.
2. Dairy Cows: Under the ‘fair value model’ laid down in Ind AS 41 the mature cows would
be recognised in the Balance Sheet at 31st March, 20X2 at the fair value of 200 x ` 5,500
= ` 11,00,000.
Increase in price change 200 x (5,200-5,000) = 40,000
Increase in physical change 200 x (5,500-5,200) = 60,000
The total difference between the fair value of matured herd and its initial cost (` 11,00,000
– ` 10,00,000 = a gain of ` 1,00,000) would be recognised in the profit and loss along with
the maintenance costs and breeding fee of ` 6,00,000 and ` 4,00,000 respectively.
3. Grant: Grant relating to agricultural activity is not subject to the normal requirement of
Ind AS 20. Under Ind AS 41 such grants are credited to income as soon as they are
unconditionally receivable rather than being recognised over the useful economic life of the
herd. Therefore, ` 10,00,000 would be credited to income of the company.
4. Calves: They are a biological asset, and the fair value model is applied. The breeding fees
are charged to income and an asset of 100 x ` 1,300 = ` 1,30,000 recognised in the
Balance Sheet and credited to Profit and Loss.
5. Milk: This is agricultural produce and initially recognised on the same basis as biological
assets. Thus the milk would be valued at 3,000 x ` 24 = ` 72,000. This is regarded as
‘cost’ for the future application of Ind AS 2 to the unsold milk.
*****
ACCOUNTING POLICY
Biological Assets
The Company recognises biological assets only when, the Company controls the assets as a result of
past events, it is probable that future economic benefits associated with such assets will flow to the
Company. Biological assets of the Company are in the nature of Consumable Biological Assets. It is
bifurcated into Brood Stock, (the Parents) and harvested species which undergo biological
transformation under different stages as nauplius, Zoea, Mysis and Post Larvae. The Company sells
the biological assets harvested from brood stock at nauplius and Post Larvae Stages. The Brood Stock
has a maximum useful life of 6 months for laying eggs, and thereafter these are destroyed.
The valuation of the Brood stock biological assets are determined on the following basis:
Brood stock are used for captive consumption or to support farmers, it cannot be sold before the end of
its useful life and as such, there is no active market. Other references to market prices such as market
prices for similar assets are also not available due to the uniqueness of the breed. Valuation based on
a discounted cash flow method is considered to be unreliable given the uncertainty with respect to
mortality rates and production. Consequently, brood stock and Shrimp seed (Different stages) are
measured at cost, less depreciation and impairment losses.
The transmission phase from nauplius to Zoea and Mysis are not considered as significant
transformation of biological asset and hence Zoea and Mysis are not valued as per
Ind AS 41.
The Company recognises other biological assets at the fair value or cost of the assets that can be
measured reliably. Expenditure incurred on biological assets are measured on initial recognition and at
the end of each reporting period at its fair value less costs to sell. The gain or loss arising from a change
in fair value less costs to sell the biological assets are included in Statement of Profit and Loss for the
period in which it arises.
Management estimates the fair value less costs to sell of biological assets, taking into account the most
reliable evidence available at each reporting date. The future realization of these biological assets may
be affected by their survival rate, age and / or other market - driven changes that may reduce the future
economic benefits associated with such assets. The fair value is arrived at based on the observable
market prices of biological assets adjusted for cost to sells, as applicable.
(Source: Annual Report 2021-2022 – Avanti Feeds Limited’)
The company would have to incur similar transportation costs if it were to sell the cattle at
auction, in addition to an auctioneer’s fee of 2% of sales price. The auctioneer charges 2%
of the selling price, from both, the buyer as well as the seller.
Calculate the amount at which cattle is to be recognised in books on initial recognition and
at year end 31st March, 20X2. Show corresponding journal entries.
2. XY Ltd. is a farming entity where cows are milked on a daily basis. Milk is kept in cold
storage immediately after milking and sold to retail distributors on a weekly basis. On
1 st April 20X1, XY Ltd. had a herd of 500 cows which were all three years old.
During the year, some of the cows became sick and on 30th September 20X1, 20 cows died.
On 1 st October 20X1, XY Ltd. purchased 20 replacement cows from the market for ` 21,000
each. These 20 cows were all one-year old when they were purchased.
On 31st March 20X2, XY Ltd. had 1,000 litres of milk in cold storage which had not been
sold to retail distributors. The market price of milk at 31 st March 20X2 was ` 20 per litre.
When selling the milk to distributors, XY Ltd. incurs selling costs of ` 1 per litre. These
amounts did not change during March 20X2 and are not expected to change during
April 20X2.
Information relating to fair value and costs to sell is given below:
The fair value of a 3.5 years old cow on 1st October 20X1 is ` 27,000.
Pass necessary journal entries of above transactions with respect to cows in the financial
statements of XY Ltd. for the year ended 31 st March, 20X2? Also show the amount lying in
inventory if any.
3. Company X purchased 100 goats at an auction for ` 1,00,000 on 30 th September 20X1.
Subsequent transportation costs were ` 1,000 that is similar to the cost X would have to
incur to sell the goat at the auction. Additionally, there would be a 2% selling fee on the
market price of the goat to be incurred by the seller.
On 31st March 20X2, the market value of the goat in the most relevant market increases to
` 1,10,000. Transportation costs of ` 1,000 would have to be incurred by the seller to get
the goat to the relevant market. An auctioneer’s fee of 2% on the market price of the goat
would be payable by the seller.
On 1 st June 20X2, X sold 18 goats for ` 20,000 and incurred transportation charges of
` 150. In addition, there was a 2% auctioneer’s fee on the market price of the goat paid
by the seller.
On 15 th September 20X2, the fair value of the remaining goat was ` 82,820. 42 goats were
slaughtered on that day, with a total slaughter cost of ` 4,200. The total market price of
the carcasses on that day was ` 48,300, and the expected transportation cost to sell the
carcasses is ` 420. No other costs are expected.
On 30 th September 20X2, the market price of the remaining 40 goat was ` 44,800. The
expected transportation cost is ` 400. Also, there would be a 2% auctioneer’s fee on the
market price of the goat payable by the seller.
Pass Journal entries for the initial and subsequent measurement for all above transactions.
Interim reporting periods are of 30 th September and 31 March and the company determines
the fair values on these dates for reporting.
4. On 1 st November, 20X1, C Agro Ltd. purchased 100 goats of special breed from a market
for ` 10,00,000 with a transaction cost of 2%. Goats fair value decreased from ` 10,00,000
to ` 9,00,000 as on 31 st March, 20X2.
Determine the fair value on the date of purchase and as on financial year ended
31st March, 20X2 under both the cases viz-
(i) the transaction costs are borne by the seller and
(ii) the transaction costs are incurred by the seller and purchaser both
Also pass journal entries under both the situations on both dates.
5. Analyse whether the following activities fall within the scope of Ind AS 41 with proper
reasoning:
Managing animal-related recreational activities like Zoo
Answers
1. Initial recognition of cattle
`
Fair value less costs to sell (` 1,00,000 – ` 1,000 - ` 2,000) 97,000
Cash outflow (` 1,00,000 + ` 1,000 + ` 2,000) 1,03,000
Loss on initial recognition 6,000
Cattle Measurement at year end
Fair value less costs to sell (` 1,10,000 – 1,000 – (2% x 1,10,000)) 1,06,800
At 31 st March, 20X2, the cattle is measured at ` 1,06,800 i.e. fair value less cost to sell
(transportation ` 1,000 and the estimated auctioneer’s fee of ` 2,200). The estimated
transportation costs of getting the cattle to the auction of ` 1,000 are deducted from the
sales price in determining fair value.
Journal Entries on 30th June, 20X1
(All figures in `)
2. Journal Entries on
(All figures in `)
To Bank 4,20,000
Date Number Age Fair Value Cost to Net (`) Biological asset (`)
(`) Sell (`)
1,28,80,000
1,26,40,000
3. Value of goat at initial recognition (30th September 20X1) (All figures are in `)
Biological asset (goat) Dr. 97,000*
Loss on initial recognition Dr. 4,000
To Bank (Purchase and cost of transportation on 1,01,000
purchase paid by buyer)
(Initial recognition of goat at fair value less costs to sell)
5.
Ind AS 41 requires several disclosures for biological assets and agricultural produce, including the methods and significant assumptions applied in determining fair value, the aggregate gain or loss arising during the period on initial recognition and from changes in fair value, and a reconciliation of changes in the carrying amount of biological assets. These disclosures provide transparency and insights into the valuation and management of biological assets .
Biological assets should generally be measured on initial recognition and at the end of each reporting period at their fair value less costs to sell. The exception to this rule is when fair value cannot be measured reliably, such as when quoted market prices are unavailable and alternative measurements are unreliable. In such cases, the asset should be measured at its cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses according to other applicable Ind AS standards .
Under Ind AS 41, government grants related to agricultural activity, specifically those related to biological assets, can be recognized when the conditions for the grants are fulfilled. However, grants related to bearer plants fall outside the scope of Ind AS 41 and are covered under Ind AS 20, which deals with accounting for government grants and disclosure of government assistance. The accounting treatment for these grants should ensure that they do not distort the financial reporting of the biological assets themselves .
A biological asset should be recognized on the balance sheet when the entity controls the asset as a result of past events, it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the entity, and the fair value or cost of the asset can be measured reliably. Control can be evidenced by ownership or rights, economic benefits are assessed through physical attributes, and there is a presumption that fair value can usually be measured reliably for biological assets .
Bearer plants are classified under Ind AS 16 if they are used solely to grow produce over several periods and are not intended for harvest themselves, except for incidental scrap sales. Such plants include tea bushes and grape vines. They are accounted for as property, plant, and equipment, meaning the accounting follows Ind AS 16. However, the agricultural produce from these bearer plants, such as tea leaves and grapes, falls within the scope of Ind AS 41 and must be measured at fair value less costs to sell at the point of harvest .
The shift from a cost model to a fair value model in agriculture accounting under Ind AS 41 was introduced to better reflect the economic realities and market conditions affecting biological assets. The fair value model allows for more accurate representation of the current financial position and performance related to these assets, as it accounts for the market-driven changes in value. Unlike the historical cost model, which could understate the economic benefits or risks, the fair value model provides greater transparency and comparability in financial reporting .
Grape vines are classified as bearer plants under Ind AS 16 because they produce crops of grapes but are not themselves harvested. When grapes are harvested, they become agricultural produce and fall under the scope of Ind AS 41. After harvest, the process of producing wine involves transformation similar to conversion of raw materials, so this activity is treated as inventory under Ind AS 2 rather than as a biological transformation under Ind AS 41 .
Agricultural activity, as defined by Ind AS 41, involves the management by an entity of the biological transformation and harvest of biological assets for sale or for conversion into agricultural produce or additional biological assets. This includes activities like raising livestock, forestry, cropping, and aquaculture. The distinguishing feature of agricultural activity is its focus on enhancing biological transformation through management practices such as controlling nutrient levels and environmental conditions. In contrast, non-agricultural activities do not focus on fostering biological transformation .
Subsequent changes in the fair value of biological assets should be accounted for in the period in which they arise. Ind AS 41 requires entities to recognize gains or losses from these changes as part of profit or loss, reflecting the impact of market conditions on the value of assets over time. This approach ensures that financial performance includes the effects of fair value adjustments, providing a more accurate representation of economic realities .
Ind AS 41 applies to agricultural produce only at the point of harvest. Once harvested, if the produce is further processed, for example, grapes into wine or wool into yarn, these activities do not fall under Ind AS 41. Instead, such processing activities should be accounted for as inventory under Ind AS 2. Examples within the scope are the picked grapes or harvested latex, while processing these into products like wine or rubber goods falls outside its scope .