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HomePosts Tagged "Managing Director" (Page 3)
Agrotech, Company News, India, Inputs, Seeds, Trade

Crystal anticipates a substantial boost in its seeds business revenues, sees an increase of approximately 20 per cent.

Crystal Crop Protection Limited, one of the fast-growing R&D-based crop protection manufacturing and marketing companies in India, has strengthened its cotton seeds portfolio with the strategic acquisition of Sadanand Cotton Seeds business from Kohinoor Seeds.

The acquisition will boost Crystal’s goal of providing end-to-end innovative and progressive solutions to stakeholders in the cotton seed business. With a persistent commitment to innovation and quality, Crystal Crops has consistently demonstrated its dedication to enhancing agricultural productivity and crop yields for farmers across the country.

Commenting on the acquisition, Satyender Singh, CEO of Seeds at Crystal Crop Protection, said: “We firmly believe that this strategic acquisition will not only reinforce our market presence in the Cotton Seeds segment but will also substantially enhance our reach and accessibility within the broader Seeds industry. In a market where approximately five crore packets constitute the cotton seed sector, displaying consistent performance over recent years, the importance of cotton as a pivotal cash crop for farmers cannot be emphasized enough. Crystal’s commitment to actively collaborating with farmers to amplify their income levels remains consistent. This acquisition represents an important milestone in further solidifying Crystal’s presence within the cotton crop sector. We look forward to continuing the legacy of Sadanand and delivering exceptional value to our customers.”

Commenting on the acquisition, Pawan Kansal, Managing Director, Kohinoor Seed Fields India Private Limited said: “We are delighted that Crystal Crop Protection has acquired ‘Sadanand’. Crystal Crop Protection is a leading company in the segment and has been making giant strides in this space through focus on innovation and digitalisation. We believe that this acquisition will provide a unique synergy of strengths to build the brand further.”

Crystal’s seeds business has experienced substantial growth in recent years, driven by a combination of organic and inorganic expansion efforts. Today, Crystal occupies a formidable presence among the leading seed providers in multiple segments, including cotton, mustard, fodder, sorghum and pearl millet. With the strategic acquisition of Sadanand Cotton Seeds from Kohinoor Seeds, Crystal anticipates a substantial boost in its seeds business revenues, projecting an increase of approximately 20 percent.

This significant acquisition marks the tenth addition to Crystal’s strategic portfolio and represents the fourth investment in the Seeds business. Some notable acquisitions in the past have been the acquisition of Cotton, Pearl Millet, Mustard, and Sorghum portfolios from Bayer in 2021. In previous years, Crystal has successfully acquired a range of agrochemical and seed brands from multinational companies such as Syngenta, FMC, and Dow-Corteva etc. Additionally, the company expanded its manufacturing capabilities through the acquisition of a production facility from the Solvay group in Nagpur in 2018.

Crystal anticipates a substantial boost in its

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, India, Interaction

Samuel Praveen Kumar, Joint Secretary (Extension), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was addressing the knowledge sharing session ‘Harnessing Agriculture’s Potential- 2035’, organised by FICCI.

Samuel Praveen Kumar, Joint Secretary (Extension), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt of India said that it is imperative to adopt technology and create infrastructure to build a resilient agriculture sector in India.

Addressing the knowledge sharing session ‘Harnessing Agriculture’s Potential- 2035’, organised by FICCI, Kumar stated that earlier the government had a production centric approach in the agriculture sector but now we focus on the entire value chain. Every country across the world is embracing newer technology, following innovative ways to build a strong agriculture value chain. “By adopting these measures along with the collective efforts of all stakeholders, we can make Indian agriculture sector more robust, resilient, climate smart to match the global standards,” he added.

To promote infrastructure in the agriculture sector, Kumar said that the government introduced agriculture infrastructure fund scheme. “Till date, close to Rs 30,000 crore has been disbursed for these projects and this in turn has brought in investments around Rs 50,500 crore. This is going to change the landscape of the agriculture sector in the country as it is through infrastructure only that we can address the other inefficiencies in the supply chain,” he added.

Sanjiv Kanwar, Managing Director, YARA South Asia said, “The agri-channels who have been in this space for over 50 years are the original start-ups of Indian agriculture- they believed in the future of Indian agriculture and committed themselves to making India self-sufficient by serving farmers with right agri inputs and technology support. Channel partners must be recognized for providing the last-mile connectivity from lab to land.”

Siraj Hussain, Advisor, FICCI and Former Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt of India said, “FICCI is thrilled to have partnered with Yara India for this knowledge-sharing event, ‘Harnessing Agriculture’s Potential – 2035’. This partnership opens doors to explore needs of input dealers and channel partners.”

Ajai Rana, CEO, Savannah Seeds Pvt Ltd said that we can improve our farm production by utilizing high-quality seeds, proper crop nutrition, and efficient mechanization in the farming process.

Kaushal Jaiswal, Co-Chairman, FICCI National Agriculture Committee and MD, Rivulis Irrigation India Pvt Ltd said with so much potential in the agriculture sector, it becomes imperative that the Agri channel partners are suitably identified, supported and handheld so as to mainstream them for the long run. 

Deepak Verma, Domain Lead- Agriculture, ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) said that ONDC brings all technology providers on one platform to provide unified solutions to the end user.

Arvind Chaudhary, Director General, Fertilizer Association of India said that there is a need to create awareness about balance use of fertilizers in farming.

Samuel Praveen Kumar, Joint Secretary (Extension), Ministry

Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, India

 Developed in collaboration with Nissan Chemical Corporation, Japan.

Leading agrochemical company Dhanuka Agritech Limited has introduced a new herbicide ‘Tizom’ that will help farmers in controlling weeds in sugarcane crop and enhance farm profitability from Sugarcane cultivation. Company has introduced Tizom for Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu farmers and will soon tap other states too.

Introduced in collaboration with Nissan Chemical Corporation, Japan, ‘Tizom’ is a groundbreaking herbicide whose unique composition and properties promise to revolutionize weed control in sugarcane farming. Two key active ingredients of ‘Tizom’- Halosulfuron Methyl 6% + Metribuzin 50% WG – provide an effective solution for controlling a wide range of weeds, including narrow leaf weeds, broadleaf weeds and Cyperus rotundus. Thus, it plays a pivotal role in increasing the productivity of sugarcane crop.

Commenting on the introduction of Tizom, Rahul Dhanuka, Joint Managing Director, Dhanuka Agritech Limited said, “Tizom will further strengthen our robust sugarcane portfolio and will be extremely helpful to sugarcane farmers. The introduction of Tizom is also a testament of our continuous endeavour to offer the best solutions to farmers and help enhance their income.”

“We at Dhanuka have aggressive growth plans in the current financial year and we plan to introduce a slew of products lined up during the remainder of the current fiscal year,” he added.

As part of Dhanuka’s unwavering focus on serving the needs of Indian farmers and strengthening its position in the crop care product segment, following the launch of 6 biologicals, 2 herbicides and 1 insecticide, Tizom is 10th product launched in this financial year.

One of the major advantages of Tizom is that it targets and eliminates weeds while leaving sugarcane crops unharmed. Moreover, Tizom offers prolonged weed control, allowing farmers to enjoy a weed-free environment for an extended duration.

Throwing more light on the benefits that Tizom brings to the table, Manoj Varshney, National Marketing Head of Dhanuka Agritech Limited said, “The selectiveness is crucial for protecting the sugarcane plants from weeds and ensuring optimal growth and yield. Such a unique offering is the need of the Indian farmers and we at Dhanuka are determined to provide noble solutions to farmers.”

 Amit Mishra, Senior Portfolio Manager for Herbicides at Dhanuka too expressed similar thoughts and said that Tizom would eliminate a major obstacle for Indian sugarcane farmers and may simplify crop management and enhance productivity.

On the part of Nissan Chemical Corporation, Japan, Dr R.K. Yadav, Managing Director, Nissan Agro Tech India Pvt. Ltd., and Yasuhiko Teraoka, International Business Head at Nissan Chemical Corporation reiterated their commitment to providing quality products to support Indian farmers in the future as well.

 Developed in collaboration with Nissan Chemical Corporation,

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech, India, Interaction

. Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India) Limited shares his views on the status of the agrochemical industry in India with AgroSpectrum. Edited excerpts:

Insecticides (India) Ltd is India’s leading and one of the top ten Indian agrochemicals manufacturing companies. IIL has emerged as a front-line performer in India’s crop care market with a top line of Rs 1192 crore in 2018-2019. In 2022, it launched its innovative biological product for improving the health of the soil called Kayakalp, the soil energiser which has received an overwhelming response. The company has state-of-the-art formulation facilities at Chopanki (Rajasthan), Samba & Udhampur (Jammu & Kashmir) and Dahej (Gujarat). IIL also has two technical synthesis plants at Chopanki and Dahej to manufacture technical grade chemicals providing the competitive edge by backward integration. Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India) Limited shares his views on the status of the agrochemical industry in India with AgroSpectrum. Edited excerpts:

How is Insecticides (India) contributing to the growth of the agrochemical sector in India?

Insecticides India (IIL) places a strong emphasis on the research and development of new crop protection and nutrition products both chemical and biological solutions. Our commitment to innovation is exemplified through four distinct R&D centers, each dedicated to different specialized areas. These centres boast state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with cutting-edge technology and staffed by qualified and experienced scientists. We firmly believe that investing in today’s research and development will secure a brighter future, positioning IIL at the forefront of the industry in the long term.

The pioneering Chopanki R&D centre, established in 2004, stands as a testament to our dedication which is now a GLP certified lab. This centre features a meticulously designed instrument and process laboratory that has gained international recognition among R&D professionals.

Our biologicals R&D centre specialises in the isolation and detection of beneficial microorganisms. Notable achievements include the development and commercialisation of VAM (Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza) and products like kayakalp & KK Pro, Soil Energiser.

Lastly, with the OAT Agrio Co. Ltd., Japan, a pioneering endeavour was undertaken to establish a facility dedicated to invention of agro-chemicals in India. This center, staffed by a team of over 45 scientists, is approved by DSIR, Ministry of Science and Technology, and led by Japanese experts. Its facilities include four Synthesis Laboratories equipped with advanced machinery such as NMR and UPLC-MS for new molecule analysis and characterisation. The centre also houses ultra-modern greenhouses for in-house testing, breeding rooms, bio-assay rooms, and spray cabinets. The focus here is on adopting international technologies from Japan and the USA for holistic growth and development.

Beyond our R&D endeavours, IIL remains deeply engaged in community-driven development initiatives with positive implications for the wider population. Owing to 105+ branded formulations, 21+ technical, and 380+ SKUs, IIL extends its support to the nation’s agriculture sector by educating farmers on sustainable crops practices and judicious use of the crop protection products. The flagship Kisaan Jagrukta Abhiyaan, initiated a decade ago, is aimed at educating farmers about optimal crop protection techniques to enhance food productivity. Additionally, the programme imparts knowledge about judicious agrochemical use, safety measures, and the cultivation of a third crop to enhance soil fertility and farmers’ incomes. Special camps and collaborative efforts further disseminate farming best practices.

Our unwavering commitment to R&D, community development, and sustainability positions us as a leading force in the agrochemical industry, fostering innovation, growth, and positive impact.

India is the world’s fourth-largest agrochemical producer and a net exporter. It has been estimated that the agrochemical market will reach $8.1 billion by 2025. How can India become competitive in this global market?

Continued investment in research and development is essential to create innovative and effective agrochemical products. R&D efforts should focus on developing novel formulations, sustainable solutions, precision agriculture technologies, and improved delivery mechanisms. Speeding up the registration process is another crucial step to ensure that the Indian agrochemical industry remains competitive in the global market. A swift and efficient registration process enables agrochemical companies to introduce their products to international markets in a timely manner. Accelerated registration processes provide a competitive advantage by allowing Indian companies to respond fast to emerging market trends, changing pest dynamics, and new challenges faced by farmers. In the fast-evolving global market, staying ahead of the curve by introducing novel products can set Indian companies apart from competitors.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

. Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India)

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agro chems – Fertilizers, Agro chems – Pesticides, Company News, Finance, India, Poultry

Segment results of Crop Protection business improved significantly by 224 per cent in Q1 FY24 as compared to the same period last year.

Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL) has today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2023. The Company reported consolidated revenues from operations of Rs 2,510.2 crore in Q1 FY24, unchanged from the same period last year. FY24 consolidated EBITDA* increased to Rs 206.8 crore from Rs. 169.3 crore in Q1 FY23, a growth of 22 per cent year-on-year. Q1 FY24 Profit before tax* increased to Rs 124.5 crore from Rs 102.8 crore in Q1 FY23, a growth of 21 per cent year-on-year.

Commenting on the performance, B. S. Yadav, Managing Director, Godrej Agrovet Limited, said, Godrej Agrovet started FY24 with a strong growth in profitability and margin expansion in the first quarter ended June 30, 2023. While our topline growth was flat, we achieved 21 per cent  year-on-year growth to clock Profit before tax of Rs. 124.5 Crore in Q1 FY24. The growth in profitability was driven by the strong performance of domestic Crop Protection, Animal Feed and Poultry businesses.

With robust volume growth and improved realizations in HITWEED (in-house herbicide), domestic Crop Protection business achieved a record quarterly topline and profitability in Q1 FY24. Segment results of Crop Protection business improved significantly by 224 per cent in Q1 FY24 as compared to the same period last year. In Feed business, sustained volume growth in cattle-feed and aqua feed was accompanied by notable recovery in margin profile across categories. Our food businesses-maintained volume growth momentum in branded products and delivered margin expansion. In Poultry, revenues from branded products increased by 15% year-on-year led by higher volumes. Lower live bird costs on account of better operational efficiencies boosted profitability as segment EBITDA grew by 50% year-on-year. Dairy business turned EBITDA positive in Q1 FY24. The higher salience of value-added products coupled with reduction in procurement costs contributed to recovery in margin profile.

Astec LifeSciences and Vegetable Oil businesses were adversely impacted by challenging market conditions. The continued demand-supply imbalance and the resultant decline in volumes as well as realizations of key enterprise products led to a sharp drop in Astec’s profitability. Astec’s contract manufacturing business, however, remained on track and its performance was in line with our expectations. Vegetable Oil business suffered from correction in end-product prices more than offsetting higher volumes.

During the quarter, GAVL commissioned its first downstream project in Vegetable oil business of an edible oil refinery in Andhra Pradesh. The refinery has a capacity of 400 MT per day.

Segment results of Crop Protection business improved

Agro chems – Chemicals, Company News, Finance, India

Company registered sales of Rs 33,746.5 million in Q1 2023-2024, as compared to Rs 38,877.9 million in Q1 2022-23 representing a decrease of 13 per cent.

Agrochemical major, BASF India Limited has reported Profit Before Tax (before exceptional items) of Rs 1,518.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, as compared to profit before tax (before exceptional items) of Rs 2,641.4 million in the prior-year quarter. 

Company registered sales of Rs 33,746.5 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2023, as compared to Rs. 38,877.9 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, representing a decrease of 13 per cent.

“Despite delayed monsoons the Agricultural Solutions team maintained their revenue growth at par with previous year. This led to better realizations in the market, contributed by the new products launched last year which continue to perform well. Most business segments are impacted due to higher input cost and softening of demand.” said Alexander Gerding, Managing Director, BASF India Limited.

Company registered sales of Rs 33,746.5 million

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Company News, India, Machinery - Pre-harvesting

The company hopes that the campaign will be a catalyst as it hopes to consolidate on its 105+ branded formulations, 380+ SKUs, and an impressive FY 2022-23 with about 5 new products and further growth in 2024.

New Delhi based Insecticides (India) Limited, one of India’s premier crop protection companies has launched an anthem for its revolutionary umbrella brand “Tractor Brand”. The anthem, which also features the brand’s ambassador and Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn, covers several leading IIL products under the Tractor Brand, including Shinwa, Mission, Izuki, Hercules and Sofia. This comes as the company continues to seek more innovative ways to connect to farmers across India and beyond.

IIL has reiterated its commitment once more to agricultural growth through farmers welfare and empowerment. The popularity of the Tractor brand stems from its position to make the mandate of IIL a reality, as well as its “hand-in-hand” with farmer’s strategy. The brand hopes that the campaign will be a catalyst as it hopes to consolidate on its 105+ branded formulations, 380+ SKUs, and an impressive FY 2022-23 with about 5 new products and further growth in 2024.

The campaign, conceptualized by BEI Confluence, a leading advertising agency with 360 integrated solutions with long experience in FMCG & Agri/Rural Category, would be transmitted across multiple platforms to provide the much-needed education and enlightenment to its teeming farmer population and raise awareness about the Tractor Brand. The anthem comes in a colorful potpourri of dance, music, laughter, and happy faces, performed in multiple languages to appeal to India’s incredible diversity.

“This is why this anthem is necessary and I am happy with its execution. Today Tractor Brand has its credibility and is popular among the farming community now we need to take this relationship to next level. It is a great way to connect with them and give them a sense of belonging to our “Tractor Brand”. We hope this will better take our message of the Tractor Brand and help the farmers understand the need to use our Tractor Brand range of products for increased productivity.,” said Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India) Limited.

The anthem was packaged with a well-thought-out strategy to make it easy for Indians to sing along and have a feel-good feeling, reflecting the brand’s desire to uplift the farmer’s spirit every time they use a Tractor Brand product. Aggarwal adds that the overall aim of the company is to extend its support to the nation’s agriculture sector by educating farmers on developing sustainable crops, and providing the products that will help them achieve such crops.

The company hopes that the campaign will

Agro chems – Fertilizers, Company News, India, Sustainability

The sustainability report centres on the 5C approach to sustainability at Yara: Commit, Channelize, Care, Concern, and Contribute

Yara India, a part of Norwegian multinational Yara International – the world’s leading crop nutrition company and a provider of agricultural, industrial, and environmental solutions, announced the release of its first India Sustainability Report. The report describes Yara’s approach to enhancing the sustainability of its business processes in India and progress towards change. Yara India has reached 11.8Mn farmers digitally and positively impacted the lives of 68,000 members of the farmer fraternity through its partnerships with more than 125 FPOs across 13 states.

The sustainability report centres on the 5C approach to sustainability at Yara: Commit, Channelize, Care, Concern, and Contribute. These pillars align well with UN SDGs, while addressing areas like GHG emission reduction, energy conservation, water stewardship, circularity, and biodiversity. The company developed a plan to invest in initiatives and programme creation in areas that will lower operating costs, induct higher female workforce across value chain, provide revenue opportunities, and lower operating risks.

On the occasion Sanjiv Kanwar, Managing Director, Yara South Asia said, ” Our work enables us to impact sustainably along the manufacturing and agricultural value chains, while offering high-tech solutions to the farmers feeding the globe. Our teams are also assisting us consistently in this endeavour and we are also relying on them for innovative ideas to enhance productivity, eradicate waste, and reduce costs. Through our initiatives, we have been able to reach out to 11.6Mn farmers and directly support 68,000 members of the farming community across 13 states.”

The company is already creating and developing solutions that cater to the changing needs of farmers and reduce environmental impacts. The report, which aligns with the Global Reporting Initiative, highlights company accomplishments such as:

Commit: 11.6 Mn farmers reached through online sessions, partnerships with more than 125 FPOs across 13 states enable us to directly connect with and support around 68,000 members of the farmer community. Yara Crop Nutrition Centres (YCNC) attracts 0.7- 1.0 million farmers monthly.

Channelise: Created opportunities for women in customer-facing roles such as agronomy and sales and as agri-entrepreneurs; partnered with 7 women-only FPOs and Women formed 50% of the Yara India Advisory Council, which has been established to guide the organisation across various strategic business imperatives

Care: Impacted 65,000 lives through our CSR initiatives; special initiatives for physical, mental & emotional well-being of our people. 99 per cent of full-time employees covered through training sessions during the year

Concern: Measures towards, reducing scope 1 GHG emissions are being undertaken along with rigorous process for waste segregation and recycling. Installation of 600 KLD MBR based sewage treatment plant for water treatment is underway.

Contribute: Generated employment for 1535 people. Supported 55 small businesses.

The sustainability report centres on the 5C

Agro chems – Chemicals, People

Karlekar is a renowned technocrat in chemical arena and R&D expert with more than 35 years of rich experience in the agrochemical industry.

India’s leading Agrochemical company Best Agrolife Ltd announced the appointment of Pramod N Karlekar as the Managing Director of their subsidiary company Best Crop Science Pvt Ltd (BCSPL).   Karlekar is a renowned technocrat in chemical arena and R&D expert with more than 35 years of rich experience in the agrochemical industry. He holds an impressive track record of handling strategic leadership roles and business operations of many multinational companies & large Indian corporate houses.

“We feel fortunate to have Karlekar on board and we are sure that under his direction BCSPL will reach new heights. Karlekar’s proven leadership skills, superior management skills, strong customer focus, sharp commercial acumen, strategic business focus, and long experience of holding leading roles in the chemical industry will help the company to develop and execute winning growth strategies,” says Vimal Alawadhi, Managing Director of Best Agrolife Ltd (BAL).

A Chemical Engineer from UDCT- one of the top Indian Institute for Chemical Technology and a Management Graduate from Mumbai University, Karlekar has a diverse and enriching professional background. He has been associated at the apex level with many reputed organizations starting with Davy Powergas India – an engineering consultancy firm of global repute.

He promoted Sudarshan Farm Chemicals India Private Limited in 2018 with a view to develop chemical technologies for products not being manufactured by anyone in India thus far and assumed the position of its CMD. Now, he would be taking over the responsibility as Managing Director of BCSPL, while continuing to be the Chairman of Sudarshan Farm Chemicals.

While fulfilling his responsibilities for various commercial assignments mentioned above, he has also contributed to the cause of industry in the capacity of Director on the board of CropLife Asia and CropLife Africa- Middle East and also as Director on Crop Care Federation of India for over last two decades.

Karlekar is a renowned technocrat in chemical

AgroPolicy, Dairy, Live Stock

The 48-member Committee will meet once every quarter in a financial year to discuss, recommend, prescribe and advise policies regarding the sectors.

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (FAHD), Government of India, has announced the formation of a National Advisory Committee for Animal Husbandry and Dairying sector encompassing several industry experts and business leaders.

Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director, Godrej Agrovet Limited, has been appointed as an industry representative in the committee. The newly formed Committee will be chaired by Hon’ble Union Minister (FAHD), Parshottam Rupala, and co-chaired by MoSs (FAHD), Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan. The 48-member Committee will meet once every quarter in a financial year to discuss, recommend, prescribe and advise policies regarding the sectors.

On the appointment, Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director, Godrej Agrovet Limited, said, “I am thankful to the Ministry for giving me with this opportunity. It is an honour to work with some of the industry’s brightest and most committed minds and contribute towards the future growth of the country. The Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy sectors have a lot of scope for furthering its contribution to the Indian economy at large. I am confident that right policies and ecosystems crated through the concerted efforts of the government and the industry will lead to high employment generation and help elevate farmers’ income.  

Dr O.P. Chaudhary, Joint Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy (DAHD), Government of India (GoI) will act as Member Secretary of the Committee and plan coordination unit of DAHD; GoI will provide all secretarial assistance to the Committee. This Committee comprises various government officials, union leaders, experts in the fields, farmers, and industry representatives to recommend, prescribe and advise policies relating to cattle & dairy development, feed and fodder, poultry, piggery, sheep, goal, animal health, other livestock, etc.

The 48-member Committee will meet once every